Nasogastric Tube Design to Reduce Clogging and Simplify Flushing

Abstract

Herein we present a new helical slit tip for the nasogastric (NG) tube to reduce clogging, as well as an accompanying modular in-line flusher to simplify flow restoration to a clogged tube. Nasogastric tubes are one of the most ubiquitous medical devices used in urgent and intensive care situations. Most commonly used to evacuate the stomach during cases of small obstructive bowel syndrome and surgical operations, the NG tube is prone to clogging. A detailed analysis of nasogastric tube obstruction in an ex vivo model was performed. The proposed NG tube tip is an improvement over the current state of the art. Clogging by suction to the mucosa is prevented by the continuous and helical nature of the suction area. Clogging by food particles is avoided by introducing slits rather than holes, and thus inhibiting close packing and clogging of the particulate on the suction tip. The modular in-line flusher is a device that combines into one push the many steps a caregiver usually takes to unclog the tube via flushing, with no disconnections required. Use of the redesigned NG tube and modular in-line flusher will reduce the need to troubleshoot and replace NG tubes, saving care providers’ time, reducing hospital costs, and reducing patient discomfort.