PINGO
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Photon imaging for nasogastric tube location
IRAS ID
335526
Contact name
Thomas Craven
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Edinburgh & Lothian Health Board ACCORD
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 0 days
Research summary
An enteral feeding tube (nasogastric tube, NGT) is a thin, flexible, tube that is placed down a patient’s throat and into their stomach. The tube allows the patient to receive nutrition and/or medication directly into their stomach.
Placement of NGTs is a standard medical procedure, yet misplacement is a serious issue that can cause various, sometimes life-threatening, complications. Current practice relies on chest X-rays for checking the location of an NGT inside a patient. This can cause significant disruption due to the dual requirements to protect staff and waiting for the availability of, or transport to, X-ray equipment. The X-ray results can be difficult to interpret which can (at best) result in significant delays to starting a patient’s treatment, or (at worst), inappropriate commencement of feeding and subsequent severe harm to the patient.
The photon imaging device (PID) is a compact bedside system intended to provide real-time guidance/feedback/visualisation to clinicians when placing NGTs. The PID uses an imaging technique known as time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC). When a source of light is placed inside the body, a tiny fraction of the light emerges from the body with a direct path. These initial fractions (or photons) of light hold precise information about the location of the light source inside the body.
The PID consists of a very thin flexible tube that goes inside the NGT and acts as the light source that will emerge from the body, a special camera that detects the photons emerging from the body, and a screen which displays the images captured by the camera.
This study aims to use the information about the light coming from within the body to determine the NGT’s location. This guidance could simplify the clinical procedure of placing an NGT, reducing instances of misplacement and the need for confirmatory tests, (e.g., X-rays) after placement.
REC name
London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0438
Date of REC Opinion
22 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion