PRESS RELEASE – 01/10/13
A
novel feeding tube that signals when it has been correctly inserted into the
stomach has reached the final stages of two innovation competitions. It is
hoped that the new device, which was devised and developed at the University of
Hull, will help improve the safety and ease of tube feeding for all patients.
Feeding
tubes (also called nasogastric tubes) fulfil an essential role by allowing food
and medication to be administered to patients who cannot eat or drink normally
by mouth. As well as being commonplace on hospital wards, nasogastric tubes are used at
home by the carers of children and people with illnesses or disabilities. They are
also used routinely for all patients having abdominal surgery in order to drain
the stomach and improve patient safety.
As
the name suggests, nasogastric tubes must be inserted through the nose, down
the oesophagus and into the stomach. However, there is currently no entirely fail-safe
method of ensuring that the tubes have been inserted correctly, and the
misplacement of tubes can lead to serious and sometimes fatal consequences.
Barbara
Elliott, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the University
of Hull, felt certain that something could be done to improve the procedure.
“When
I was a practicing nurse and Ward Sister, inserting nasogastric tubes was
something I did regularly,” she said. “However,
making sure the tube was positioned in the right place was problematic, as there
is potential for the tube to be inserted into the lungs, or for it not to be
inserted far enough into the stomach.
“The
new feeding tube is designed to provide a signal once it is correctly
positioned. When the tip comes into contact with stomach acid, a tiny current
is generated which travels back up the tube and is detected
on a handheld device, about the size of a mobile phone. This device can then be
removed, allowing food to be administered.”
The tube is the result of collaboration between
academic faculties across the University of Hull, the Knowledge Exchange and
clinical colleagues. The project has been funded by the National Institute for
Health Research (NIHR) Invention for Innovation (i4i) Programme.
The
team at the University of Hull also sought feedback from the users of feeding
tubes, to help them with their design. “We
had originally planned for the detector to be credit-card sized,” said Barbara,
“but parents told us that they would much rather have something a little bit
bigger, similar to a mobile phone or TV remote, which was easy to carry but
less likely to get lost.”
The
feeding tube has reached the final five for the Universal Biotech Innovation
Prize, beating around 200 other contenders from across Europe.
The
project has also been recognised more locally, reaching the final five in
‘Medical Devices’ category of the Medipex NHS Innovation Awards. This award,
which covers Yorkshire and the East Midlands, aims to identify inventions that could
lead to improvements in patient care and could be scaled up for wider
implementation across the NHS.
The
winners of both awards are due to be announced at ceremonies in the coming
weeks.
Robert
Singh, Commercial Development Officer at the University of Hull Enterprise
Centre, said:
“The
feeding tube is the result of true collaboration and hard work by colleagues
across the University and we are delighted to reach the final stages of two
such significant awards.
“Medical
device development is particularly strong at the University of Hull and we hope
to see these ideas translated into tangible benefits for patients in the near
future.”
The
team hope to begin trialling the new feeding tube in patients within the next
18 months.
-ENDS-
For media enquiries, please contact
Nina Beadle on 01482 465268
Notes to Editors
The
misplacement of a nasogastric tube which is not quickly detected and corrected
is classed as an NHS ‘never-event’; meaning it is an event that is considered
unacceptable and preventable.
The
current recommended method of testing positioning is to use the tube to suck up
a small sample of fluid from inside the body and test its pH using indicator
paper. Tubes that are correctly inserted into the stomach should give a clear
result using this test, as the fluid in the stomach is very acidic. In the event
of an uncertain result, clinicians are recommended to use an X-ray to make sure
of the correct positioning.
About the University of
Hull
Inspired in Hull - The University of Hull
has a long heritage of academic excellence. It was England’s 14th
university when it was established in 1927 and received its Royal Charter in
1954. Its inspiring history includes major research in health, business, social
sciences, the performing arts and science. Liquid crystal display (LCD)
technology was developed in Hull and now underpins most mobile and computer
screens.
Still inspiring today - The University has more
than 20,000 students across two picturesque campuses in Hull and Scarborough. A
vibrant and ambitious institution, recognised for excellent teaching, student
experience and graduate employability, as well as first-class research and
enterprise.
The University of Hull has launched iHull, a mobile
application that gives students and visitors access to a range of information
about studying at the University. The app is available for iPhone/iPad,
Android™ devices and as mobile web pages. You can download the app.
About the
National Institute for Health Research
The
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is funded by the Department of
Health to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. Since
its establishment in April 2006, the NIHR has transformed research in the NHS.
It has increased the volume of applied health research for the benefit of patients
and the public, driven faster translation of basic science discoveries into
tangible benefits for patients and the economy, and developed and supported the
people who conduct and contribute to applied health research. The NIHR plays a
key role in the Government’s strategy for economic growth, attracting
investment by the life-sciences industries through its world-class
infrastructure for health research. Together, the NIHR people, programmes,
centres of excellence and systems represent the most integrated health research
system in the world. For further information, visit the NIHR website.
