Summary:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering & Bioengineering have developed a constant flow path mechanical ventilator used for the treatment of advanced respiratory diseases, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Background:
Respiratory failure leading to the need for respiratory support is a very serious problem that may yield a lower functional lung volume and decreases the ability of the patient to successfully perform gas transfer with the alveoli in the lungs, thus limiting the intake of oxygen and the exhalation of carbon dioxide. Mechanical ventilators are designed to treat a wide range of respiratory issues, including pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and more. A mechanical ventilator is a machine that takes over the work of breathing when a person is not able to breathe sufficiently on their own. Mechanical ventilation can be noninvasive in cases of a milder degree of respiratory insufficiency, or invasive requiring endotracheal intubation. Endotracheal intubation is a procedure by which an endotracheal tube (ETT) is inserted through the mouth into the trachea. Modern mechanical ventilators utilize variable flow valves and orifices. These devices are cost prohibitive, difficult to produce, difficult to service, and require significant training to operate. They are not appropriate for low-resource settings or as a broad public or global health tool. Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved mechanical ventilator system that can better address these obstacles.
Innovation:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering & Bioengineering have developed a mechanical ventilator that operates with a set of flow paths. The invention consists of at least one orifice plate and valve flow paths to create a constant flow rate of gas across the ventilator with the principle of “choked flow.” It makes use of a series of flow paths, which allow for optimization of system design while allowing for improved simplicity and flexibility in controlling the various parameters for the ventilator. Upstream of the valve and orifice is a constant pressure source which ensures that the flow rate across each orifice of a given diameter does not change with time. This reduced complexity in the electromechanical design of the ventilator allows for a device that is very straightforward to manufacture and is designed for ease of use and control. The ventilator has been extensively tested on the benchtop at the UCLA Simulation Center and its performance compared with an FDA cleared critical care ventilator. The results of this benchtop testing have been peer reviewed and published.
Potential Applications:
- ARDS ventilation
- Intensive care unit (ICU) ventilation
Advantages:
- Constant flow rate of oxygen
- Simple design and operation
- Easy to manufacture
Development to Date:
The invention has been successfully demonstrated and a fully-functioning prototype developed.
Pre-submission to the FDA has been completed and response from the FDA has been received.
Peer reviewed publication on the results of benchtop testing.
Related Papers:
https://jmedresinnov.com/design-and-efficacy-of-a-novel-low-cost-ventilator-a-feasibility-study-on-artificial-lungs/
Demonstration Video:
QuantumAir Mechanical Ventilator - prototype demonstration
Patent Publication:
Mechanical ventilator with a fixed number of orifice plates to generate constant flow paths
Reference:
UCLA Case No. 2020-810