Enteral Nutrition Feeding has been revolutionised by ELLY. This lightweight portable device offers newfound freedom for children, parents and nurses alike. The mechanical pressure system allows for an extended lifespan and integrates user-friendly smartphone app, for seamless control, feeding schedule monitoring, alerts and medical records. Practitioners benefit from the relayed medical data to enhance personalised care.
You are in hospital and your little one cannot eat by themselves. They have been diagnosed with failure to thrive and require Enteral Nutrition Feeding (ENF). The process of receiving nutrition to the body via the nose, or direct to stomach. ENF is an immediate solution to the bigger problem and many children spend months, years or lifetime being fed this way. Parents and carers spend their time navigating feeding pumps, formulas and medical interventions.
The issue
In Australia, numerous patients, particularly children, rely on enteral nutrition via NG/PEG tubes. The current delivery system, comprising a hung formula bag and electronic roller pump, presents significant challenges for home care and paediatric patients. Issues include limited pump battery life, formula positioning requirements, and the system’s overall weight and bulk. These factors impede mobility, especially for children, necessitating constant caregiver assistance. Families often resort to improvised solutions to improve the home experience. The core problem lies in the delivery system’s design, which fails to adequately address the needs of patients and caregivers in non-clinical settings. A redesign focusing on portability, extended battery life, and user-friendly operation could significantly enhance quality of life for enteral nutrition patients.
Research
Analysis of primary and secondary data reveals the distinctive challenges in the Enteral Nutrition Feeding (ENF) journey, while consistently highlighting systemic disadvantages. Healthcare practitioners universally grapple with the system’s bulkiness, underscoring the need for equipment refinement. Thematic analysis of parental and allied health specialist feedback emphasises the imperative for equipment development, system regeneration, and enhanced community engagement. While preventative measures remain crucial, the call for an improved solution resonates strongly across stakeholder groups. Parents, as equal users in this ecosystem, navigate the complexities of feeding setup, timing control, and real-time adjustments. Household improvisation emerges as a critical coping mechanism, indicating that future technological advancements should prioritise caregiver needs. Concurrently, mechanical implementations must be tailored to paediatric requirements, ensuring a holistic approach to ENF system redesign.
“In a patient’s journey … there are so many people involved”
Paediatric nurse, 2024
Every Little Life Yields (ELLY) represents a significant advancement in Enteral Nutrition Feeding (ENF) systems for children and toddlers. This lightweight, portable device enhances mobility and independence, offering newfound freedom for young patients, parents, and healthcare professionals. Its innovative mechanical pressure system ensures precise nutrition delivery while extending operational lifespan. The integrated smartphone app provides real-time feeding schedule monitoring, customisable alerts, and comprehensive medical record management, facilitating seamless communication between caregivers and practitioners. By minimising the traditional ENF delivery system without sacrificing control or efficacy, ELLY sets a new standard in paediatric enteral nutrition management, ultimately improving the quality of life for children requiring long-term nutritional support.
Operation
Sequence of events
The ELLY device operates on a simple principle of pressure and controlled flow. The process is as follows:
1. Filling the Liquid Bag: The liquid bag is filled with formula, holding up to 500ml.
2. Air Release: Once filled, air is slowly released to allow pressure to build within the bag.
3. Securing the Bag: The bag is looped around the hook inside the pump.
4. Feeding Line Placement: The opening and line are placed through the pinch valve.
5. Creating Pressure: The lid is closed to create pressure, with the slider locked in place.
6. Usage: Control buttons are utilised as needed, and the device can be hung or placed in a backpack.
Additionally, the app and lock button can be activated at this time. A timer can be set, and important details can be relayed to hospital records. The lock button ensures that children can play outside with the device without the risk of accidentally altering the feeding program. This design prioritises safety and ease of use for both caregivers and young patients.
Keys features
This exploded view showcases the design’s lightweight construction, emphasising a significant reduction in complexity compared to traditional pump systems. The conventional roller mechanism and heavy battery have been replaced with an innovative pressure application system and a smart solenoid valve, substantially reducing overall weight.
Flow regulation is achieved through a sophisticated light sensor valve integrated into the tube pathway, enabling precise monitoring of both input and output flow rates. This data is then recorded for accurate tracking and analysis.
The device features programmable buttons that facilitate a range of customisable feeding regimens, enhancing its versatility for various patient needs.
Currently, the primary limitation of the design is its size. Future iterations aim to optimise the scale, which may marginally increase the carry weight but will allow for extended operational capacity and a broader range of programmable options. This strategic approach to design evolution ensures a balance between portability and functionality, addressing the evolving needs of enteral nutrition patients.
Detail images
The app
The ELLY companion app introduces unprecedented autonomy in the Enteral Nutrition Feeding (ENF) field. This innovative interface provides remote access to pump controls, enhancing user convenience during rest periods or nocturnal feeding sessions. It significantly reduces interruptions to a child’s activities by allowing caregivers to manage alarms and adjust settings remotely.
A key feature of the app is its ability to transmit real-time feeding data and historical formula flow information directly to healthcare providers. This streamlines medical appointments by providing accurate, up-to-date patient data, eliminating reliance on caregiver recall.
Furthermore, the app’s scheduling functionality enables precise timing of daily feeds. This feature facilitates seamless coordination between multiple caregivers, ensuring consistent adherence to prescribed feeding regimens. By digitalising these critical aspects of ENF management, the app markedly improves the quality of care and life for both patients and caregivers.
physical prototypes
Elise Sawell
A passionate designer focused on enhancing human experiences through innovative solutions. Driven by a vision to create emotional connections and unity through design, Elise is dedicated to developing impactful, community-centered creations. Seeking opportunities to grow, learn, and contribute meaningfully to human-centered design projects.
