Evaluation of a Bubble CPAP System for Low Resource Settings

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neonatal Respiratory Care

Background:

• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is vital for newborns but inaccessible in low-resource settings.
• A novel, electricity-independent bubble CPAP system was developed to improve accessibility and quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of a novel bubble CPAP system using a simulated preterm neonate model.
• To assess the system's ability to deliver accurate pressure, oxygen concentration, and humidity.

Main Methods:

• A 3D-printed nasal airway model simulating a preterm neonate was used.
• The bubble CPAP system's performance was tested at various settings for pressure, oxygen, and humidity delivery.

Main Results:

• Three separate devices demonstrated consistent performance within 5% variation.
• The system accurately controlled CPAP and oxygen levels (±0.5 cm H2O and ±4% of full scale).
• Relative humidity consistently exceeded 80%.

Conclusions:

• The novel bubble CPAP system provides accurate, humidified respiratory support.
• The device is suitable for premature newborns requiring noninvasive respiratory support in resource-limited environments.