Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Use of an Integrated Low-Flow Anesthetic Vaporizer, Ventilator, and Physiological Monitoring System for Rodents
Published on: July 9, 2020
Evaluation of a new circuit configuration for the VDR-4 high-frequency percussive ventilator
Samuel W Jones1, Kathy A Short, William J Hanson
1Department of Surgery, North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Abstract:
High-frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) by the VDR-4(R) has been a successful mode of ventilation in the management of inhalation injuries for nearly 20 years. A limitation of the standard VDR-4 ventilator circuit is that the sliding venturi manifold is heavy in weight and is normally connected directly to the patient's endotracheal tube (ETT), resulting in potentially hazardous torque on the ETT. In this study, we evaluate the mechanics of a new circuit for the VDR-4 that relocates the sliding venturi manifold portion of the circuit away from the ETT into the ventilator proper. This new VDR-4 circuit configuration may have an important impact on patient safety.
Related Concept Videos
Mechanical Ventilation I: Indication and Settings
Mechanical Ventilation III: Noninvasive Ventilation
Noninvasive Positive-Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV)
Mechanical Ventilation II: Invasive Ventilation
Negative-Pressure Ventilators
Negative-pressure ventilators create a vacuum around the chest or body to draw air into the lungs, simulating breathing. This method does not require an...
Tracheostomy Suctioning II: Procedure
Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
Ventilatory Modes
There are three ventilatory modes: full support, partial support, and spontaneous. These are described below.
Full Support Modes
Full support modes include controlled mechanical ventilation, continuous mandatory...

