Gastric Decompression Apparatus With Hydrophobic Filter Venting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for gastric pressure relief and abdominal distention in neonatal patients are inadequate, particularly in the context of enteral feeding, as they fail to provide a closed system that prevents contamination while effectively venting gases and liquids, and may introduce foreign substances.

Innovation Solution

A gastric decompression apparatus with a variable-volume container and a movable plunger, featuring a filter in the lumen, which allows for controlled venting and collection of gases and liquids, while preventing ingress of contaminants through a hydrophobic filter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a syringe is left open or partially open to enable gas and residual feed to vent out, then gas venting is improved, but the risk of ingress of foreign substances increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas ventingVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a hydrophobic filter with porous structure that allows gas molecules to pass through while blocking liquid and particulate contaminants. The filter's pore size is specifically designed to permit gas venting while preventing foreign substance ingress, resolving the contradiction between ease of gas venting and contamination prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The hydrophobic filter acts as an intermediary component between the venting pathway and the external environment. It mediates the interaction by selectively allowing gas to pass while blocking contaminants, thus enabling gas venting functionality without compromising patient safety from foreign substance contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a closed system is used to prevent contamination, then contamination risk is reduced, but gas venting capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidgas venting capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrophobic filter's porous structure enables the system to maintain closure while allowing gas to escape. The pores are sized to permit gas molecules through while blocking larger contaminants, thus maintaining contamination prevention with effective gas venting capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The filter's hydrophobic property changes the permeability parameters of the system - it becomes permeable to gas phases while impermeable to liquid and particulate phases. This parameter change allows the closed system to vent gas without compromising its protective barrier function against contaminants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If gastric pressure relief devices are used to prevent upward expulsion of reflux materials, then uncontrolled burping is prevented, but air introduction into the feeding system occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereflux controlVSAvoidair introduction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrophobic filter allows selective passage of gases while blocking liquids and air bubbles. This enables the system to manage gastric pressure and vent gases without introducing additional air into the feeding system, as the filter prevents air bubbles from forming and entering the enteral tube.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of gas accumulation into a beneficial venting mechanism. The hydrophobic filter transforms trapped gas into a controlled venting process that relieves pressure without creating air bubbles that could enter the feeding system, thus converting a harmful accumulation problem into a safe release mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The apparatus provides a closed system for gastric pressure relief and abdominal distention, minimizing contamination risk and reducing crowding in neonatal care settings by efficiently venting gases and allowing re-delivery of collected contents.

Implementation Method 1

a filter disposed within the lumen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobic filter: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentUS20250241828A1System, apparatus, and method for relieving abdominal distention

Publication Date: 2025.07.31 AVENT INC

AI summary

A gastric decompression apparatus includes a variable-volume container having a movable plunger. The movable plunger is slidably mounted within the containment barrel so as to vary the contained volume of the container. The movable plunger has a plunger body having at least one lumen extending therethrough, and a filter disposed within the lumen. The gastric decompression apparatus may have a larger diameter and a shorter length from the first end to the second end as compared to conventional elongated syringes having an equal volume to minimize the size of apparatus within an isolette for a neonatal patient, advantageously reducing crowding within the isolette, particularly when there may be numerous tubes, wires, and monitors present for treating the neonatal patient. A gastric decompression system includes the gastric decompression apparatus and a catheter coupled to the container. A method of providing gastric decompression using the gastric decompression system is also provided.