Design and Study of a Portable High-frequency Ventilator for Clinical Applications

Abstract

Treatment costs for ventilator-dependent patients are a substantial burden not only for their family but also for medical systems in general. Recently, using high-frequency ventilators have been shown to reduce the risk of lung injury through low-volume airflow. However, the machines used today remain bulky, costly, and only for use in hospital settings. To provide intermediate therapy for patients between hospitalization and complete discharge, a portable, light-weight high-frequency ventilator is an urgent need. This work presents the design of a portable high-frequency ventilator and a study of its practicality for further clinical medical applications. Through the integration of advanced electronics and mechanical instruments, we develop a portable high-frequency ventilator with reconfigurable oxygen flow rate, applied pressure, and air volume for the needs of individual patients. A miniaturized portable high-frequency ventilator with digital controller and feedback system for stabilization and precision control is implemented. The efficiency of CO2 washout using the proposed ventilator has been demonstrated in animal trials.