Technologies

Facilitates Ventilator Weaning By Strengthening the Inspiratory Muscles

This automated inspiratory muscle training combines hardware and software components, strengthening the inspiratory muscles while a patient is receiving mechanical ventilation. More than 300,000 patients receive mechanical ventilation in the United States each year. Though an indispensable therapy for patients experiencing respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation is not without significant risk. When a ventilator is used for as little as one day, the inspiratory muscles begin to atrophy and weaken, resulting in difficulty for about 40 percent of patients when liberation from mechanical ventilation is attempted.

University of Florida researchers combine hardware and software in this method of strengthening inspiratory muscles during ventilation to aid in weaning the patient from mechanical ventilation dependency. Their clinical trials and continued research with this patented muscle training system demonstrate an increase in the percentage of long-term patients who were weaned compared to usual care. The hardware and software can be integrated into a mechanical ventilator as an external device or as a software upgrade to existing ventilators. The system also can make recommendations on progressing the training program, providing visual feedback to the patient and therapist during training sessions and displaying training progression over time. Prophylactic use of the system is also feasible to avoid muscle loss during early stages of ventilation.

Technology

The inspiratory strength training module is either incorporated into a conventional ventilator or as an external module for use with existing ventilators. Hospital staff members use the software component to set a strength training load for an individual patient, which comprises 4 sets of 10 training breaths over a 15 minute period. The hardware component, an electromechanical device, provides a threshold inspiratory load to the patient’s breathing tube, forcing the patient to overcome the negative pressure when inhaling, strengthening the inspiratory muscles. The software component generates a report including graphical feedback regarding the patient’s progress; evaluation of the patient’s training efforts; and recommendations for modifications in training in real time. The technology has the ability to provide long-term progress and clinical advice.