OstoPump Artificial Bowel Connects Ostomies for Enteral Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for necrotizing enterocolitis in infants, such as surgical NEC, rely on costly and debilitating intravenous nutrition due to the lack of devices or protocols for cleanly inserting bowel contents for refeeding, leading to prolonged healing times and increased healthcare costs.
Innovation Solution
The OstoPump system creates a temporary artificial bowel that connects two ostomies, providing a protocol for refeeding by using a peristaltic pump and anchoring cones to facilitate autonomous flow of bowel contents, reducing leakage and backflow, and allowing for enteral feeding instead of intravenous nutrition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If intravenous nutrition is used for infants with necrotizing enterocolitis, then nutritional support is provided, but healthcare costs increase and healing time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external artificial bowel as an intermediary device that connects the proximal and distal ostomies, enabling enteral feeding through the existing ostomies. This mediator allows bowel contents to be delivered directly to the distal bowel segment, providing nutritional support while avoiding the need for intravenous nutrition and promoting faster healing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the bowel function into segments by using the existing ostomies as access points and creating an external connection between them. The artificial bowel is segmented with multiple lumens for different functions (feeding, venting), allowing independent control of nutritional delivery and pressure management to optimize healing
2Reliability
If surgical treatment with ostomies is performed, then necrotic bowel is removed, but complex wound care and biocompatibility constraints are imposed
Solution Approach 1:
The external artificial bowel acts as an intermediary that interfaces with the existing ostomies using standard wound care techniques. The device connects to the ostomies through simple adhesive barriers that can be managed with routine ostomy care, avoiding the need for complex biocompatible implants while still providing the necessary bowel reconnection function
3Ease of operation
If no device exists for refeeding, then bowel contents cannot be cleanly inserted, but leakage and backflow occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controlled delivery system as an intermediary between the feeding source and the distal bowel. This system includes a pump for controlled delivery, valves for directional control, and a collection bag for waste management, enabling clean insertion of bowel contents while preventing leakage and backflow through mechanical control
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms through pressure sensors and flow monitoring that detect leakage or backflow conditions. When abnormalities are detected, the system automatically adjusts pump rates, valve positions, or alerts caregivers to prevent worsening of the condition
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 OstoPump system enables quicker healing, reduces healthcare costs, and decreases the need for prolonged hospital stays by allowing infants to resume enteral feeding, thereby lowering the economic burden on families and hospitals while minimizing harmful side effects.
Implementation Method 1
By using an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention device, hospitals can save, for example, at least $2,400 per patient for providing nutritional support alone... utilizes a peristaltic pump to move contents
Implementation Method 2
Anchoring cones or the like (other shaped covers) are used over each ostomy and/or stoma to, among other things, stabilize the system
Data Source
AI summary
A device for refeeding bowel content of a subject configured to cover a proximal ostomy of a subject and a distal member configured to cover a distal ostomy of a subject. The device may include a bowel lumen member configured to carry bowel contents between the proximal ostomy and the distal ostomy. A method for refeeding bowel content of a subject by disposing a bowel lumen member between a proximal ostomy and distal ostomy, wherein the bowel member is configured to carry bowel contents between the proximal ostomy and the distal ostomy.