Passive Electromagnetic Sensor for Feeding Tube Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feeding tubes face challenges in reliable real-time tracking and position confirmation due to patient movement and environmental dynamics, leading to potential misplacement and complications during enteral feeding.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a passive electromagnetic sensor at the distal tip of the feeding tube, which allows for monitoring under an external electromagnetic field, providing more reliable position coordinates and reducing RF-induced heating, enabling safe use during MRI procedures without the need for sensor reinsertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electromagnetic sensor is integrated into the feeding tube for real-time tracking, then position monitoring reliability is improved, but RF induced heating during MRI procedures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a passive electromagnetic sensor as an intermediary element that can be detected by external MRI equipment without requiring active transmission. The sensor contains magnetic particles that respond passively to external magnetic fields, enabling position tracking while minimizing RF heating compared to active transmitters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the electromagnetic sensor by making it passive rather than active. The sensor uses magnetic particles with specific magnetic susceptibility properties that allow detection during MRI without generating significant RF heating, thus resolving the contradiction between monitoring reliability and heating effects.
2Reliability
If active electromagnetic sensors are used for real-time tracking, then position monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity and safety requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The passive electromagnetic sensor utilizes the external MRI equipment's magnetic field for detection without requiring its own power source or active transmission capability. The sensor essentially serves itself by passively responding to the external field, greatly simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining real-time tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the power source and active transmission components from the sensor system, placing them entirely in the external MRI equipment. This leaves only a simple passive sensor in the feeding tube, reducing device complexity while preserving the essential real-time tracking function.
3Device complexity
If feeding tube position is confirmed only after insertion, then device simplicity is maintained, but patient safety and feeding initiation time are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The passive electromagnetic sensor is integrated into the feeding tube before insertion, enabling real-time position monitoring during the insertion process itself. This preliminary monitoring capability allows immediate detection of misplacement while the tube is being positioned, improving patient safety without requiring complex additional systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor provides continuous feedback during insertion about the tube's position, allowing operators to make real-time adjustments. This feedback mechanism ensures the tube reaches the correct position safely while maintaining relative system simplicity through the use of passive sensing.
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 solution ensures accurate real-time monitoring of feeding tube positioning, reduces the risk of incorrect insertion, and allows for convenient MRI procedures without sensor removal, enhancing patient and caregiver safety.
Implementation Method 1
a passive electromagnetic sensor at its distal tip, which sensor enables monitoring of the feeding tube position and/or path, when subject to an electromagnetic field generator, external to the patient's body
Implementation Method 2
the feeding tube, including the electromagnetic sensor, as disclosed herein, exhibits a very low RF induced heating during MRI
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided feeding tubes including an electromagnetic sensor including a sensor body comprising a core positioned at a distal end of the sensor lumen, and a wire extending along the length of the feeding tube, wherein an RF induced heating of the feeding tube in an MRI environment is below 5 degrees.