Shape-Memory Nasogastric Tube for Small-Insertion, Large-Feed Diameter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nasogastric tubes cause patient discomfort and clinical complications due to excessive diameter, which can lead to nasal cavity inflammation, sinusitis, and pharyngitis, while reducing diameter to avoid these issues may result in insufficient support and feeding difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A nasogastric tube structure with a flexible tube containing a temperature-controllable and deformable wire made of a shape memory alloy, such as nickel-titanium alloy, that adjusts diameter in response to temperature changes, allowing for easy insertion and expansion for feeding or medication administration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the tube diameter is increased to facilitate feeding and medication delivery, then feeding efficiency is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to nasal cavity compression and clinical complications
Solution Approach 1:
The nasogastric tube incorporates a temperature-responsive polymer that dynamically changes the tube diameter based on temperature. At lower temperatures (during insertion), the tube contracts to a smaller diameter for comfort. At higher temperatures (after insertion into the body), the tube expands to a larger diameter for efficient feeding. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between feeding efficiency and patient comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The tube utilizes temperature as a control parameter to change its physical state and diameter. By embedding a temperature-responsive polymer, the tube automatically adjusts its diameter in response to temperature changes, transitioning from a compressed state during insertion to an expanded state during feeding, thereby resolving the size contradiction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the tube diameter is reduced to improve patient comfort, then nasal compression is reduced, but feeding difficulty increases due to higher resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The tube dynamically adjusts its diameter based on temperature conditions. During insertion, the tube maintains a smaller diameter to reduce nasal compression and prevent inflammation. After insertion into the warmer body environment, the tube automatically expands to a larger diameter to reduce feeding resistance and improve ease of operation, thus resolving the contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature-responsive polymer changes the tube's physical parameters (diameter, flexibility) in response to temperature. This parameter change allows the tube to optimize its dimensions for different operational phases: small diameter for comfortable insertion, large diameter for efficient feeding, resolving the contradiction between comfort and ease of operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the tube diameter is reduced to avoid compression, then patient comfort is improved, but tube support force becomes insufficient due to thinner walls
Solution Approach 1:
The tube's wall thickness and support force dynamically adjust with temperature. During insertion, the tube has thinner walls providing flexibility and comfort. After insertion, the temperature increase causes the polymer to expand, increasing wall thickness and support force to prevent buckling and maintain structural integrity during feeding, resolving the contradiction between comfort and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The tube utilizes a composite structure with temperature-responsive polymer material that exhibits different mechanical properties at different temperatures. This composite material provides both the flexibility needed for comfortable insertion and the structural strength needed for supporting feeding, resolving the contradiction between patient comfort and tube support force.
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 structure enhances patient comfort by reducing nasal compression, prevents clinical complications, and facilitates easy tube placement and efficient feeding or medication delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature-controllable and deformable wire embedded within the wall of the flexible tube... the wire deforms in response to temperature changes
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a nasogastric tube structure including a temperature-controllable and deformable wire embedded within the wall of a flexible tube. The wire deforms in response to temperature changes, thereby altering the diameter of the tube. This allows the nasogastric tube to be inserted with a reduced diameter, enhancing patient comfort during the procedure. After the nasogastric tube is in place, the tube expands to a larger diameter as the wire deforms, facilitating the patient’s feeding and medication administration.