Annals of Biomedical Engineering

, Volume 43, Issue 12, pp 2941–2952 | Cite as

A Non-invasive Real-time Localization System for Enhanced Efficacy in Nasogastric Intubation

  • Zhenglong Sun
  • Shaohui Foong
  • Luc Maréchal
  • U-Xuan Tan
  • Tee Hui Teo
  • Asim Shabbir
Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Nasogastric (NG) intubation is one of the most commonly performed clinical procedures. Real-time localization and tracking of the NG tube passage at the larynx region into the esophagus is crucial for safety, but is lacking in current practice. In this paper, we present the design, analysis and evaluation of a non-invasive real-time localization system using passive magnetic tracking techniques to improve efficacy of the clinical NG intubation process. By embedding a small permanent magnet at the insertion tip of the NG tube, a wearable system containing embedded sensors around the neck can determine the absolute position of the NG tube inside the body in real-time to assist in insertion. In order to validate the feasibility of the proposed system in detecting erroneous tube placement, typical reference intubation trajectories are first analyzed using anatomically correct models and localization accuracy of the system are evaluated using a precise robotic platform. It is found that the root-mean-squared tracking accuracy is within 5.3 mm for both the esophagus and trachea intubation pathways. Experiments were also designed and performed to demonstrate that the system is capable of tracking the NG tube accurately in biological environments even in presence of stationary ferromagnetic objects (such as clinical instruments). With minimal physical modification to the NG tube and clinical process, this system allows accurate and efficient localization and confirmation of correct NG tube placement without supplemental radiographic methods which is considered the current clinical standard.

Keywords

Nasogastric intubation Magnetic localization Wearable device Healthcare safety 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the SUTD-MIT International Design Centre Research Grant IDSF2100107OH and the Singapore University of Technology and Design Start-up Grant SRG EPD 2011 007. This project is facilitated by the robotic platform from the SUTD-ZJU Research Collaboration Grant SUTD-ZJU/RES/03/2012.

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Copyright information

© Biomedical Engineering Society 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Engineering Product Development PillarSingapore University of Technology and DesignSingaporeSingapore
  2. 2.Division of General Surgery (Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery), University Surgical ClusterNational University Health SystemSingaporeSingapore

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