Nasogastric Tube Plug With Wireless pH Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nasogastric tubes face challenges in accurately measuring gastric pH values without causing patient discomfort, wasting gastric juice, and risking contamination due to bulky pH meters requiring reference electrodes.
Innovation Solution
A nasogastric tube integrated with a pH sensor in a plug that wirelessly transmits pH values using antennas, eliminating the need for gastric juice extraction and avoiding electrolyte leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional pH meters with reference electrodes are used to measure gastric pH, then pH measurement capability is achieved, but device complexity and risk of electrolyte leakage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the reference electrode component from the pH measurement system. Instead of using a conventional pH meter with reference electrodes, the invention integrates a simplified pH sensing element directly into the nasogastric tube plug, removing the source of electrolyte leakage and reducing device complexity while maintaining pH measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrochemical reference electrode system with an integrated pH sensing element that uses antennas for wireless signal transmission. This substitution eliminates the need for complex electrochemical reference systems and enables wireless communication of pH data
2Measurement precision
If gastric juice is extracted through the nasogastric tube for pH testing, then pH measurement is achieved, but patient discomfort and gastric juice waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pH sensing element is integrated into the nasogastric tube plug itself, allowing the tube to perform pH measurement autonomously without requiring external gastric juice extraction. The sensing element directly contacts gastric juice in the stomach through the discharging portion, enabling self-measurement and eliminating the need for manual sampling procedures that cause patient discomfort
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the pH measurement function with the existing nasogastric tube structure by integrating the pH sensing element into the plug. This combination eliminates the need for separate gastric juice extraction and testing procedures, allowing continuous pH monitoring directly at the measurement site without additional patient discomfort or gastric juice waste
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
Accurately measures gastric pH values wirelessly, reducing patient discomfort and workload, while ensuring precise nutritional management.
Implementation Method 1
The pH sensing element is made of conducting material which is configured to produce different voltage response with a pH ion concentration in gastric juice
Implementation Method 2
One of the two antennas is configured to receive, and the other antenna is configured to send. The pH value of the gastric juice measured by the pH sensing element is wirelessly send by the two antennas to a reader
Data Source
AI summary
A nasogastric tube contains: a body, a plug, and a pH (potential of hydrogen) sensor. The body includes a feeding portion, a discharging portion, and a conduit. The feeding portion has a cap, and the discharging portion has multiple through orifices. The plug includes a connecting portion and a protruded portion. The protruded portion has a smooth surface. The pH sensor is injection molded to integrate into the plug, and the pH sensor includes a pH sensing element and two antennas. The pH sensing element is made of conducting material which is configured to produce different voltage response with a pH ion concentration in gastric juice. The pH value of the gastric juice measured by the pH sensing element is wirelessly send by the two antennas to a reader, and the pH value of the gastric juice measured is displayed on the reader.