Innovative Low-Cost 'SimpleSilo' Could Transform Treatment for Babies with Gastroschisis Globally

In many low-resource healthcare settings worldwide, infants born with gastroschisis—a congenital defect where intestines protrude outside the abdomen through a hole—face dire survival challenges due to limited access to advanced medical equipment. While survival rates in high-income countries now exceed 90% thanks to sophisticated neonatal care, babies in resource-limited areas often succumb because of the unavailability of affordable life-saving devices.

A groundbreaking project led by researchers from Rice University’s Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies has introduced the 'SimpleSilo,' a low-cost, easy-to-manufacture device designed to provide effective treatment for gastroschisis at a fraction of traditional costs. Unlike traditional silo bags, which can cost between $200 and $300 and require surgical sewing—raising infection risks—the SimpleSilo is constructed from readily available materials such as saline bags, oxygen tubing, and food-grade heat sealers.

"Our goal was to develop a device that mimics the functions of commercial silo bags but is affordable and easy to produce locally," explained Vanshika Jhonsa, the study’s lead author. The device costs less than $2.05 to make and can be assembled in under an hour by hospital staff, empowering facilities with limited resources to effectively treat gastroschisis.

Laboratory evaluations demonstrated that the SimpleSilo has a minimal fluid leakage rate comparable to existing commercial options and can withstand disinfection processes without loss of performance. In simulated tests using cow intestines, the device successfully achieved a 50% reduction of intestinal contents into the cavity over three days, matching higher-cost alternatives.

Clinicians in Kenya have already successfully utilized the SimpleSilo in clinical settings, reporting positive patient outcomes. The device’s design emphasizes simplicity, relying on common materials and straightforward assembly techniques, making it highly adaptable for hospitals in low-income regions.

Plans are underway for clinical trials in East Africa, with the goal of publicly sharing the open-source assembly instructions to enable widespread local manufacturing. The project exemplifies how innovative engineering solutions, grounded in global collaboration and resource awareness, can bridge critical gaps in neonatal care and save countless lives.

This initiative underscores that sometimes, the most effective solutions are also the simplest, providing hope for reducing infant mortality associated with gastroschisis worldwide.