Ventilator machine

Types of Ventilator Machines

A ventilator machine, also known as a mechanical ventilator, comes in several types that are generally grouped according to the nature of their use or the patients/individuals they assist.

• Universal Ventilator Machines: Universal ventilator machines are suitable for new-borns, paediatric patients, and adults. They perform all the necessary ventilation functions for people of different ages and sizes. Such ventilator machines often have features like variable tidal volume and pressure settings. They enable the devices to be adjusted to meet the requirements of individual patients. Such ventilators might also have interfaces, such as masks and endotracheal tubes, suitable for use with patients of various sizes.
• Neonatal Ventilator Machines: Neonatal ventilator machines are specifically designed to care for babies born prematurely. Such babies may have underdeveloped lungs. Therefore, specific ventilation support is needed. These ventilators have features to take care of the small-sized patients safely and effectively with precision, like smaller tidal volumes and higher frequencies. Some of these ventilator machines have features that allow the device to sense and adapt to the natural breathing patterns of the infant. This way, the baby is not scared or their breathing disrupted. Some of the neonatal ventilators also come with humidified and heated interfaces to ease the pressure on delicate skin and mucous membranes.
• Pediatric Ventilator Machines: Just as the name suggests, pediatric ventilator machines focus specifically on kids between infancy and the early teenage years. Such ventilators have smaller sizes and lighter weights to suit pediatric patients. Their technology precisely controls parameters like tidal volume, pressure, and gas exchange. In addition, they avoid potential complications specific to children, such as airway obstruction and accidental dislodging of the endotracheal tubes.
• Emergency Ventilator Machines: Emergency ventilator machines are temporary emergency respiration support. It is usually provided before the long-term invasive options become necessary or right on the spot until professional help is summoned. Some of these emergency ventilators have automatic breathing assistance modes. Others have manual settings that the caregiver may have to use. They are usually portable and easy to transport, which makes them ideal for emergencies. Such ventilators may be battery-assisted, self-powered, or continuous-flow oxygen delivery systems.
• Transport Ventilator Machines: As the name suggests, transport ventilator machines are specialized breathing devices caregivers can use to move patients who need breathing support from one place to another. They allow for continuous, safe, and efficient breathing support regardless of the patient's location. Some of these ventilators can work with different power sources, such as batteries and external power. Others are small enough to be attached to the patient’s throat tube (tracheal tube) or endotracheal tube. Yet others are small enough to fit into a carrying bag with the patient.
• Non-Invasive Ventilator Machines: Non-invasive ventilator machines (NIV) offer respiratory support to patients through their skin without needing an endotracheal or tracheostomy tube (tubes inserted into the throat). NIV means that the ventilator will push air into the body through a tight-fitting mask. Non-invasive varieties are often used for people with chronic lung conditions or temporary breathing problems, like pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Specification and Maintenance of a Ventilator Machine

Specification

• Breath Modes

  The ventilator supports several breathing patterns, each designed to help different types of patients. Some common breathing methods are mandatory, assisted, controlled, and spontaneous breathing. The ventilator delivers each of these breathing patterns in a distinct way. For example, in mandatory breathing, the machine gives all the breaths. On the other hand, the ventilator allows the patient to take some of his breaths through the ventilator in assisted and spontaneous breathing. In controlled breathing, the ventilator sets all the breath rates and amounts without help from the patient.

• Ventilation Parameters

  Some important parameters the ventilator takes care of are Tidal Volume, Respiratory Rate, and Inspiratory time. The tidal volume is the amount of air the ventilator pumps into the lungs during each breath. The ventilator usually sets this amount between 6 and 10 milliliters per kilogram of the patient's body weight. The number of breaths the machine gives in a minute is called the respiratory rate. For most patients, the ventilator will set the breathing rate between 12 and 20 breaths each minute. The last variable is the time it takes for the ventilator to give each breath. The ventilator usually gives a faster breathing time during ventilation of patients with ARDS or pneumonia. For such patients, the inspiratory time is usually between 0.8 and 1.2 seconds.

• Presence of a Humidifier

  To keep the patient's lungs from getting dry and irritated, the ventilator will have a device to add moisture to the air called a humidifier. This allows the ventilator to give the lung patients warm and wet air.

Maintenance

An important part of keeping a ventilator machine safe to use is regularly cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing the ventilator. Here are the steps:

• Clean Ventilator Parts

  Start by cleaning and preparing all the ventilator pieces, like the mask, tubing, filter, and any other parts used for the specific ventilator model. Make sure these parts are safe to clean by checking with the manufacturer's recommendations.

• Disassemble the Ventilator

  Carefully take apart the ventilator machine. Remember to only take off the pieces that were said to be removable by the manufacturer. Look through the ventilator manual to find the proper disassembly instructions. Make sure to follow the suggested procedures carefully so as not to damage any parts by taking them off the wrong way.

• Cleaning the Ventilator Components

  Using the appropriate cleaning solution, gently wash all the removed ventilator pieces. Be sure to clean every part thoroughly and get rid of any dirt or pollutants that may have settled on the surfaces. After washing, thoroughly rinse all components to ensure no cleaning solution residue remains on them. Then, let the pieces dry completely before putting them back on the machine.

• Disinfecting or Sterilizing Ventilator Parts

  If the ventilator pieces need to be disinfected or sterilized, follow the specific disinfecting or sterilizing instructions carefully. Only use the recommended disinfecting or sterilizing agents for the particular ventilator model. Make sure to apply the agents precisely as mentioned in the guidelines to ensure proper effectiveness and safety.

• Putting the Machine Back Together.

  After cleaning, disinfecting or sterilizing, dry the ventilator components completely before reassembling the ventilator. Follow the instructions carefully in reverse order of disassembly. Ensure all parts are correctly and safely put back together to allow the machine to function properly.

Usage scenarios ventilator machines

• ICU/Critical Care:

  In ICU and CCU patients with critical conditions or severe organ failure, a life-saving device that ensures therapeutic goals is mandatory. The ventilation settings can be adjusted with maximum flexibility and a complete patient-tracking toolset 24/7.

• Anesthesia During Surgery:

  General anesthesia implies total control over breathing, too, not just about depth and neuro-muscular relaxation. Safe and accurate volume- and pressure-controlled venting is required, along with a device featuring specific lung-protective strategies. These include low tidal volume/high respiratory rate and auto-PEEP, among others.

• Emergency Care:

  In emergencies like trauma, cardiac arrest, or respiratory distress, a simple, easy-to-use, portable device with a fast start-up is required. It should be equipped with a precise oxygen therapy system and a high-performance battery to guarantee continuity regardless of the environmental circumstances.

• Long-term Support:

  In stable patients requiring treatment for weeks or months, like weaning, tracheostomy and home care, among other situations, non-invasive and invasive solutions should be focused on pediatric and adult use. The preferred methods need to be affordable, safe, and comfortable for the patient.

• Transport Ventilators:

  When moving critically ill patients from one hospital unit to another, or to another healthcare center or even during emergency medical services (EMS) transporting the patient outside any healthcare institution, there is a need for a lightweight, compact device with a sturdy design, easy-to-operated controls, and a reliable power source to guarantee breathing support in any environment.

How to choose ventilator machine

The following six tips will help when choosing a suitable ventilator for a particular purpose:

• Assess the clinical features of a patient

  Usually, manufacturers of ventilator machines create each machine to serve a class of patients based on their clinical features. Remember to examine if the ventilator will serve an infant, child, or adult population. Moreover, consider the type of disease the ventilator target. Some ventilators are better suited for pneumonia than for Covid-19 or upper airway obstruction.

• Determine the frequency and duration of use

  Get ready to use the ventilator for either therapeutic, emergency, or transport issues. Some ventilators serve better during transport than amid therapy. If considering an emergency ventilator, ensure that it can function adequately until therapeutic care arrives.

• Optional Featualres

  Modern ventilators come with the bonus of additional features. Some have built-in nebulizers to offer additional therapeutic care to patients. Others have automatic tidal volume adjustment to ease the burdensome work of health professionals caring for the patient on the ventilator. Some have an assisted alert method that enables the ventilator to sense when the patient is trying to breathe and boost up to assist them in taking that breath.

• Easy Interface

  The user interface plays a significant role in how soon a health professional can learn to operate the ventilator. Look for a ventilator with a user interface uncomplicated enough to understand its operation instantly. Also, consider how the ventilator's people technology will integrate with existing hospital or health systems.

• Patient compatibility

  Not all patients will benefit from all types of ventilators. Check the need for ventilator modes and the size and connection compatibility of each patient. For example, consider if the patient has an endotracheal tube or a tracheostomy tube. Also, check the size for infants and adults to ensure there will be no leaks and that it will work as anticipated.

• Service and support

  After making the crucial choice of which ventilator will serve the purpose, it will be necessary to think about the support and services from the supplier or manufacturer. Is there ready service and support when the time comes to ask for help? Is training provided so that health staff will be prepared and know what to do in cases of emergency or when therapeutic care is essential to the patient?

Q&A

Q1: What are the recent trends in the ventilator machine market?

A recent trend is the growing use of portable ventilator machines owing to their applications in pre-hospital and emergency settings as well as in home healthcare systems. The portable ones are convenient, easy to use, and lightweight. Another trend is the incorporation of artificial intelligence and machine learning into ventilator machines to allow for improved patient monitoring and respiratory pattern analysis.

Q2: What are the challenges facing the ventilator machine market?

The ventilator machine market faces several challenges such as the high costs that limit the accessibility of ventilators in low-resource settings. There is also a global dependency on a few manufacturers for ventilator production, which creates vulnerability to supply chain disruptions and demand surges.

Q3: What are the different types of ventilator machines?

There are many different types of ventilator machines. The most common ones are the invasive machines that assist patients with respiration through tubes inserted into the windpipe. Then there are high-frequency ventilators that have faster breathing rates and smaller tidal volumes. They are typically used in neonate ICUs. There are also non-invasive ventilators that support patients with respiratory failure through masks or nasal prongs.