Design and development of an affordable multi-mode small animal ventilator

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Preclinical Research

Background:

• Mechanical ventilation is crucial for small animal experiments in biomedical research.
• Existing ventilators are often expensive and functionally limited for preclinical studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective, multi-mode mechanical ventilator for small animal research.
• To provide precise and customizable ventilation parameters for enhanced experimental accuracy.

Main Methods:

• A microcontroller-based system was designed using commercially available components.
• The system synchronizes valves and utilizes piston pumps for controlled airflow and tidal volume.
• It emulates conventional ventilation modes and offers customizable breath patterns (sinusoidal, linear, exponential).

Main Results:

• The developed ventilator provides precise control over pressure-volume schematics in small animal respiratory systems.
• It supports tidal volumes from 1-15 ml and respiratory rates up to 120 breaths per minute.
• Positive end-expiratory pressure is manually adjustable, with customizable inspiration/expiration profiles.

Conclusions:

• The cost-effective, multi-mode ventilator offers precise and flexible ventilation strategies for small animal research.
• This system enhances experimental accuracy and accessibility for a wider range of researchers.
• It represents a significant advancement in preclinical investigation tools.