A Multiple Emergency Ventilator as Backup Solution in Pandemic: A Specifically Designed and Dimensioned Device.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ventilators are critical for managing respiratory failure.
• Shortages of ICU ventilators necessitate backup solutions, particularly for mass casualty events or in austere environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a Multiple Emergency Ventilator (MEV) system capable of supporting multiple patients simultaneously.
• To ensure the MEV system functions as a reliable backup for ICU ventilators and is suitable for deployment in field hospitals.

Main Methods:

• The MEV system was designed to deliver a consistent oxygen mixture and peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) to 10 patients.
• Key design specifications included compatible gas supply, fluid dynamics ensuring minimal pressure drop and patient uncoupling, individual patient monitoring, and ease of transport and installation.
• A Bell-Jar System (BJS) was employed to regulate PIP based on Archimedes' principle, utilizing over-dimensioned stainless steel piping for the main distribution line.

Main Results:

• The BJS design successfully regulated PIP, with a maximum adiabatic PIP drop of -6.18% under worst-case demand, confirming effective patient uncoupling.
• The system demonstrated fluid-dynamic properties that minimized pressure fluctuations and allowed for patient asynchrony when needed.
• Individual monitoring of inspiratory/expiratory pressures and flows, along with timing control, was integrated for each patient.

Conclusions:

• The developed MEV system offers a viable solution for managing multiple patients requiring mechanical ventilation during shortages.
• Its design features, including patient uncoupling and individual monitoring, meet the requirements for advanced ventilation modes typically found in ICU settings.
• The MEV system is suitable as a backup for ICU ventilators and for use in emergency or field hospital settings.