Assistance with PEG feeding syringe
The client is the mother of an 11-year-old child with genetic disorders that mean he has to be fed and medicated by PEG syringe. Having done this all the child’s life; the mother has developed carpal tunnel syndrome, has already had one wrist operated on and is waiting for an operation on the other. When filled with food, the syringes require considerable pressure to squeeze. The request was for some form of mechanical assistance with the operation.
The Challenge
Thoughts discussed by the York Panel before the assessment visit indicated that an adaptation of an existing tool used in the building industry for clamping or squeezing may work. Consequently, a skeleton-type mastic gun was taken to the initial assessment for discussion. It was found that the standard 60ml syringe, when full, neatly fitted the length of a standard mastic gun. The client was clear that the action of squeezing a trigger was not a problem, as it was a different action to that of the syringe; it also had the benefit of leverage, meaning little force would be needed to perform the feeding. It was agreed a mastic gun type tool would be modified for trial
A basic mastic gun was bought and then three pieces of aluminium bar machined to :-
1/Replace the pushing end of the gun to support the syringe handle
2/Sit in the middle of the gun to support the diameter of the syringe, which is less than the tube of mastic it is designed for.
3/An end piece at the outlet, again to the diameter of the syringe and slotted to allow for the feeding tube to be on the syringe before it is inserted in the gun.
Finally, the operating rod was shortened as the standard length was unnecessarily long, and a knob was fitted rather than the crude bend on the bought gun.
The solution
Machining of pieces from 2 & ¼” Aluminium bar was a costly and time-consuming exercise. On reflection, the pieces needed would perhaps be better made by 3D printing in plastic by a REMAP volunteer with access to that facility.
The benefit
The finished gun was delivered and met with the client’s satisfaction. The adaptation worked.
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