Ventilators are commonly used in the operating room
and in the ICU to deliver mechanical ventilation to the
lungs.Breath
controlcomplexitygives rise to the needto identifyanddescribe "modes"ofventilation. Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh
2nd Semester 2023-2024
12
Multi-compartment model of the respiratory system connected to a
ventilator using electronic analogs
2nd Semester 2023-2024
13
Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh
14 Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Modern ventilatormachines have two separate but inter
connectedsystems;apneumaticflowsystemandanelectronic
controlsystem. Thepneumaticflowsystemenablestheflowofgasthroughthe
ventilator.Thegases(oxygenandmedicalgradeair)enterthe
air / oxygenmixer which they combine at the required
percentage.Thegasesthenenteralargereservoirtanktobe
compressed.Anelectronicallycontrolledflowvalveproportion
thegasflowfromthereservoirtanktothepatient'sbreathing
circuit. Insomeventilators,anaircompressorisusedinplace
of acompressedair tank.Ventilatorsrequireelectricpower,
oxygen, and compressed air usually supplied via external
powersourceaswellasviahospital'scentralgassupply(with
supplypressureofapproximately3-6bar). Inareaswithout
centralgassupplyorduringtransportationofpatientswithin
thehospital, it isnecessary toensurethe functioningof the
devicebyothermeans.Potential solutions includetheuseof
separate compressors, compressed gas cylinder packs, and
accumulators. Ventilator Functional Block Diagram
Gas mixer allowsthe user to vary theoxygen concentration of inspiratory
gas between 21%and100%byvolume:
a.
Mechanical gas mixers(old technology). b.
Electronically-controlled gas mixer integrated in ventilator(standard now). Gas mixers usually responsible for ensuring that breathing gas to be supplied is
prepared and delivered in required quantity and rate. It is often the threshold
ranges whichposethegreatest challenges to thesemeteringsystems. For volume
of 20 mlwith an oxygen concentration of 30% by volume, 17.7 mlof gasmust be
deliveredviacompressedair valveand2.3mlviaoxygenvalve. The pressure or flow generator is responsible for delivering mixed gas prepared
by the gas mixer according to selected ventilation parameters. Flow generator is
a controlled valve whose output provides defined gas flow with output pressure
is not specified. Pressure generator behaves similar to compressor, whose output
provides defined pressure with unspecified gas flow. It's often used to drive
ventilators notdependentoncompressedairthat useambient air forventilation. 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh
15
Breathing System
Breathing system forms interface between patient and the ventilator. Clinical ventilators are usually connected to
patient via inspiratory and expiratory hose (dual-hose circuit). Expiratory valve is closed during the inspiratory
phase where gas flow delivered through inspiratory portpasses through breathing gas humidifier before entering
patient's lungs to make it adapted to climatic conditions in patient's lungs. After inspiratory phase, patient exhales
when expiratory valve is opened, expiratory gas passes through ventilator again, but not reused for following
inspiration. Based on this characteristic, the breathing systems of ventilators are also referred to as non
rebreathing circuits. Gas Humidifier
Humidifiers are used to warm and humidify inspiratory gas. Dry and relatively cool supply gas would dry out the
patient's airways with risk of causing irreversible damage to the ciliated epithelium. Active gas humidifiers are
located in the inspiratory limb and use electrical energy to heat a water bath. When the cold, dry gas passes over
the water surface it absorbs water molecules and is thuswarmed and humidified. Example: Pass-over humidifiers
and Bubble- through humidifiers. Passive breathing gas humidifiers, termed heat and moisture exchangers
(HMEs), are placed close to patient and designed to buffer significant fraction of moisture and heat expired by
patient. Retained moistureis then usedto conditioninspiredgas passingthrough HMEduringnextinspiration. 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh
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17 Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Expiratory (Exhalation) Valve
Expiratory valve switches between inspiration and expiration phases of Ventilation If valve is not
opened completely during expiration, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is created in lungs. PEEP is therapeutically important as it increases gas exchange surface oflungs. Adequate PEEP can
also prevent collapse of individual alveolar areas. If expiratory valve is controlled during
inspiratory phase, it can compensate for undesired pressure rises in breathing system Caused, for
example, bypatient coughing. 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh
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19 Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh 2nd Semester 2023-2024
OperatingandDisplayUnit
Operatinganddisplayunitistheinterfacebetweenventilatoranduser.Oftentouchscreensdesignedtodisplay
pressureandflowcurvesaswellasmultiplemenusforsettingdifferentventilationmodes,adjustingalarmlimits
ormeasuredvalueoverviews,etc.Parametersettingsenteredinoperatingunitcontroldevicecomponentsand
thereforedetermineventilationpatternappliedtothepatient. AlarmSystemandPatientMonitor
Ensuresthatventilationparametersset inoperatinganddisplayunitareactuallyapplied.Thissystemissues
audibleandvisualalarmstoalertstaff tocritical changes inthepatient'sconditionor technicalmalfunctions
monitorsthefollowing:
- Inspiratoryoxygenconcentration(controlledbythegasmixer)
- VentilationPressureandVolume(tomonitorthepressure/flowgenerator)
- Inspiratorybreathinggastemperature(whenusingactivegashumidifier)
Patientmonitoringisusedtomonitorthepatient'svitalfunctions
- Electrocardiogram(ECG)
- Bloodpressure(noninvasiveand/orinvasive)
- Oxygensaturation
- Carbondioxideconcentrationinthebreathinggas
20 Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Modernventilatormachinesconsistoftwoseparatebutinter-connectedsystems:thepneumaticflowsystemand
anelectroniccontrolsystem. Thepneumaticflowsystemenablestheflowofgasthroughtheventilator.Oxygenandmedicalgradeairenterthe
ventilatorat3.5bar(50psi)pressurethroughbuilt-in0.1micronfilters.Thenormaloperatingrangeis2to6bar
or28to86psi.Thesegassesenter theair/oxygenmixerwheretheycombineat therequiredpercentageand
reducedinpressureto350cmH2O.Thegassesthenenteralargereservoirtankwhichholdsabout8litersof
mixedgasses,whencompressedto350cmH2O.Anelectronicallycontrolledflowvalveproportionsthegasflow
fromthereservoirtanktothepatientbreathingcircuit.Insomeventilators,anaircompressorisusedinplaceofa
compressedairtank.Theprimaryobjectiveofthedeviceistoensureproperlevelofoxygenintheinspiratoryair
anddeliveratidalvolumeaccordingtotheclinicalrequirements. Asthegassesleavetheventilator, theypassbyanoxygenanalyzer,asafetyambientairinletvalveandaback-up
mechanicaloverpressurevalve.Theambientvalveprovidesthepatienttheabilitytobreatheroomairwhenthe
ventilatorfailsorthepressureinthepatientcircuitdropsbelow-10cmofH2O.Inthepatientbreathingcircuitis
abi-directionalflowsensortomeasurethegasflows.Theexhaledgassesexitthroughanelectronicallycontrolled
exhalationvalve locatedat theventilator.With the introductionofmicroprocessors forcontrol ofmetering
devices,electromechanicalvalveshavegainedpopularity.Themicroprocessorcontrolseachvalvetodeliverthe
desiredinspiratoryairandoxygenflowsformandatoryandspontaneousventilation.Ahighpressurevalveisused
toprovidesafetyincasethepressureinthepatientcircuitexceeds110cmH2O. Types of Ventilators
ModernVentilators(Microprocessorcontrolled)
The electronic control system may use one or more microprocessors and software to perform monitoring and
control functions in a ventilator. These parameters include setting of the respiration rate, flow waveform, tidal
volume, and oxygen concentration of the delivered breath, peak flow and PEEP. The PEEP selected in the
mandatory mode is only used for controlof exhalation flow. The microprocessor utilizes the above parameters to
compute the desired inspiratory flow trajectory. The system consists of monitors for pressure flow and oxygen
fraction. The sensors are connected to electronic processing circuits which makes them available for digital
readouts. The signals are also compared with pre-set alarm levels so that if they fall outside a pre-determined
normal range, alarms are sounded. The pressure sensors are normally of semiconductor strain gauge typeplaced
in a bridge configuration. For measurement of fraction of oxygen in the inspired air, afuel cell type oxygen sensor
is used.This sensorgenerates acurrentproportionaltopO2. 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh
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22 Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Anewtechniqueforventilatingpatientsat frequenciesmuchhigher thantherespirationratehasrecentlybeen
introduced.ThismethodhasbeenshowntoimproveCO2washoutandprovideadequateoxygenationwithoutthe
requirementforhighinspiratorypressures.Thekeyprincipleinthistechniqueistoprovidetidalvolumesequalto
orsmallerthanthedeadspace,atveryhighrates. Inconventionalpositivepressureventilation,CO2eliminationis
directlycontrolledbytheamountofappliedminuteventilation.However,itisknownthatmeanairwaypressureis
theparameterthatbestcorrelateswithimprovementinoxygenation.Gastransportduringconventionalventilation
isattributed totwobasicmechanisms: (i)convectionor flowof gas throughtheconductingairways, and(ii)
moleculardiffusionof gasses intothealveoli andpulmonarycapillaries. Thetidalvolume(VT)applied tothe
patientattheY-piececanbedividedintothevolumeusedtoventilatethedeadspace(VD)andthealveolarvolume
(VTalv).Onlythealveolarvolumetakespartinthegasexchangeprocess.Therefore,
HighFrequencyVentilators
V Talv=VT-VD
Theportionofthetidalvolumeusedtoventilatethedeadspacedoesnottakepartincapillarygasexchangeandis
thereforewasted. Toovercome theproblemofwastedventilation inconventionalventilation, the inspiratory
pressureisincreasedinordertoincreasethetotal tidalvolume.Unfortunately,however, thisalsoincreasesthe
mechanicalstressonthelungandhasbeenassociatedwithvarioustraumas.Highfrequencyventilationhasbeen
showntoprovideadequatealveolarventilationandoxygenationwithout therequirement forhighinspiratory
pressures.Theventilatorgenerateshighfrequencyratefrom5to20Hz(300to1200pulse/minute).Although
severalmethodsareavailabletogeneratethehighfrequencypressurewaves, theBabylog8000makesuseofan
oscillatingdiaphragmmechanism. 23 Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Thismechanismis computer-controlled and canpreciselydetermine the shape of thepressure swings. An
alternativemethodofachievingHFventilationisbasedonthejetprincipleinwhichasmalldiametertubeispassed
downatrachealcannulaandiseitherterminatedatitsdistalendorextendedintothetracheaitself.Shortpulsesof
higherpressureoxygenareintroducedintotheairwaythroughthecannulaatfrequencieswellabovethenormal
respirationrate.Thistechniquehasthedisadvantageofforcingvolumeintothepatientandthenleavingthepatient
toexhalepassively,whichmayleadtosometrappedvolumeinsidethelungincreasingthemeanlungpressure. Thisproblemisovercomebyensuringthatthepressureduringtheexhalationphaseisnegativewithrespecttothe
setPEEP. 24 Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Themaintaskofahumidifieristoreplacehumidityintheupperairpassageswhichhasbeenlostbyintubation. Thehumidityshouldbeascloseto100%aspossible,orspeakingintermsofwater,theabsolutecontentperliter
breathinggasshouldbemorethan30mg,regardlessofenvironmentalconditions.Therefore,inordertoprevent
damagetothepatient'slungs,theairoroxygenappliedduringrespiratorytherapymustbehumidified.Thus,all
ventilatorsincludearrangementstohumidifytheair,eitherbyheatvaporization(stream)orbybubblinganair
streamthroughajarofwater.Whenwaterorsometypeofmedicationsuspendedintheinspiredairasan
aerosol istobeadministeredtothepatient, adevicecalledanebulizer isused. Inthisdevice, thewateror
medicationispickedupbyahighvelocityjetofair/oxygenandmadetoimpactagainstoneormorebafflesto
breakthesubstanceintocontrolled-sizeddropletswhicharethenappliedtothepatientviaarespirator.More
effectiveandefficientnebulizersarebasedontheuseofhighintensityultrasoundenergywhichvibratesthe
substance(waterormedication) toproduceahighvolumeofminuteparticles.Ultrasonicnebulizersdonot
dependuponbreathinggasforoperationandthustherapeuticagentscanbeconvenientlyadministeredduring
ventilationprocedure.Aspiratorsareoftenincludedaspartofaventilator toremovemucusandotherfluids
fromtheairways.Alternatively,aseparatesuctiondevicemaybeutilizedtoachievethesamepurpose. Humidifiers,NebulizersandAspirators
- Breathing pattern
I.VolumeControl (VC)
Aventilator canbeclassifiedas
either a pressure, volume, or
flow controller. When
classifyingmodesof ventilation,
we do not need to be so
specific. Because control of
volume implies control of flow
andviceversa,wecanrefer to
twobasicmodesofventilation:
volume control and pressure
control. II. Pressure Control (PC)
Pressure controlmeans that
the airway pressure
waveform is preset (for
example by setting peak
inspiratorypressureandend
expiratory pressure). Tidal
volume and inspiratory flow
are then dependent on
these settings and the
elastance and resistance of
therespiratorysystem. Dual Control (DC)
There are clinical advantages and
disadvantages to volume and pressure
control. Simply put, volume control results
in amore stableminute ventilation (and
hence more stable gas exchange) than
pressure control if lung mechanics are
unstable. On the other hand, pressure
control allows better synchronizationwith
thepatient because inspiratoryvolumeand
floware not limited to arbitrary preset
values. While it ispossibletocontrol only
one variable at a time, a ventilator can
automatically switch between pressure
control andvolume control in an attempt
to guarantee minute ventilation while
maximizingpatientsynchrony. 25 Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Modes of Ventilation
A. Primary breath control variable
26 Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Therearetwotypesofdualcontrol.Dualcontrolbetweenbreathsmeansthattheventilatorcontrolspressure
duringeachbreathbut adjusts thepressure limit toachievea tidal volume target over several breaths. Alternatively, theventilatorcanswitchbetweenvolumeandpressurecontrolduringasinglebreath(dual
controlwithinbreaths,figurebelow). Modes of Ventilation
- Breathing pattern
B. Breath sequence
The second component of the breathing pattern specification is the breath sequence. A breath is defined as a
positive change in airway flow (inspiration) paired with a negative change in airway flow (expiration), both
relative to baseline flow and associated with ventilation of the lungs. But the definition allows the
superimposition of, say, a spontaneous breath on a mandatory breath or vice versa. On the other hand,
mandatory breaths are superimposedonspontaneousbreaths during high-frequencyoscillatoryventilation. The classification of modes requires the definition of two basic types of breaths: spontaneous and
mandatory. A spontaneous breath is a breath for which the patient controls the start time and the tidal
volume. That is, the patient both triggers (starts) and cycles (ends) the breath. A spontaneous breath may
either beassistedor unassisted. A mandatory breath is a breath for which the machine sets the start time and/or the tidal volume. That is, the
machine triggers and/or cyclesthe breath. 2nd Semester 2023-2024
27
Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh
there are three possible sequencesof breaths, designatedas follows:
I.
ContinuousMandatory Ventilation (CMV): all breaths are mandatory
II. ContinuousSpontaneous Ventilation (CSV): all breaths are spontaneous
III. Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation (IMV): breaths can be either mandatory or
spontaneous.Breaths can occurseparately or breaths can be superimposedon each other. When the mandatory breath is patient-triggered, it is commonly referred to as synchronized IMV (SIMV). However, because the trigger variable can be specified in the description of phase variables, we will use IMV
instead ofSIMVto designate generalbreath sequences. When we add the breath sequence to the control variable in classifying a mode, we get a greater ability to
discriminate modes. We can distinguish between, say, pressure controlled IMV and pressure controlled CSV. If
we confine ourselves to classifying modes based solely on the breathing pattern, we see that there are only
eight possibilities: VC-CMV, VC-IMV, PC-CMV, PC-IMV, PC-CSV, DC-CMV, DC-IMV, and DC-CSV. Note that VC-CSV
is impossible by definition. 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh
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29 Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Wehavediscussed"controlvariables"andthedifferencesbetweenpressure,volume,anddualcontrolbut,we
havenotreallyexplainedwhatismeantby"control"inthefirstplace.Therearetwogeneralwaystocontrola
variable;openloopcontrolandclosedloopcontrol.The vast majority of ventilators used in the world provide "conventional"
ventilation. This employs breathing patterns that approximate those
produced bya normal spontaneouslybreathing person. 2nd Semester 2023-2024
6
Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh
7 Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh 2nd Semester 2023-2024
Automating Ventilator
Lung Volume and Capacity
Volumes:There arefourvolumes:
(1) tidal volume(Vt) is the volumeofgasinhaled or exhaled duringeach respiratorycycle. (2) inspiratoryreservevolume(IRV)is the maximalvolumeofgas inspiredfromend-inspiration. (3) expiratoryreservevolume(ERV)is the maximalvolumeofgasexhaled fromend-expiration. (4) residualvolume(RV)is the volumeofgas remainingin the lungsfollowingamaximalexhalation. Capacities:There are four capacities, each of which contains two or more primary volumes:
(1) total lung capacity (TLC) is the amount of gas contained in the lung at maximal inspiration. (2) vital capacity (VC) is the maximal volume of gas that can be expelled from the lungs by a forceful effort
following maximal inspiration, without regard for the time involved. (3) inspiratory capacity (IC) is the maximal volume of gas that can be inspired from the resting expiratory level. (4) functional residual capacity (FRC) is the volume of gas in the lungs at resting end-expiration. Tidal volumes are large enough to clear the anatomical dead space during inspiration and the breathing rates are in
the range of normal rates. Gas transport in the airways is dominated by convective flow and mixing in the alveoli
occurs by molecular diffusion. There is also a class of "high frequency ventilator" that delivers tidal volumes less
than dead space volume at frequencies up to 15 Hz. High frequency ventilators, in theory, minimize the risk of
damage to diseased lung tissue that could be caused by volumetric over distention with normal tidal volumes.Control
Type Description ExampleControl
Scheme ExampleMode Example
Ventilator
Setpoint Outputmatchesfixedinput
Tidalvolumeorpeak
pressureheldconstantby
adjustingcontrolvariable
Pressurecontrol
Assist control
Pressuresupport
SiemensServo
Hamilton Galileo
PB840
Servo Outputmatchesdynamic
input
Pressuremade
proportionalto volume
and/orflow
Proportional
Assist
Automatic Tube
Compensation
NotavailableinUS
DragerEvita4
Setpoint Dual
Control
Automaticswitchbetween
pressureandvolumecontrolto
maintain operator defined
setpoint
Volume control overrides
pressurecontrolwith
breathifsettidalvolume
notmet
PressureLimited
Ventilation
Volume Assured
PressureSupport
DrigarEvita4
Bird8400ST
Adaptive
DualControl
Automaticadjustmentof
pressuresetpointtomaintain
anoperatorselectedvolume
setpoint
Pressure limit adjusted to
maintain set tidal volume,
using lungmechanics
Pressure
Regulated
Volumecontrol
AutoFlow
SiemensServo300
DragerEvita4
Optimal Dual
Control
Automatic adjustment of both
pressure and volume setpointto
minimizeothervariables
Pressurelimitandtidal
volume adjustedtominimize
workofbreathing,usinglung
mechanics
AdaptiveSupport
Ventilation HamiltonGalileo
32 Assist Lec.: Athra'a Sabeeh 2nd Semester 2023-2024
A.Thephasevariable isasignal that ismeasuredandusedbytheventilator toinitiatesomepart, or
phase, of thebreathcycle.Thevariablecausingabreathtobeginis thetriggervariable.Avariablewhose
magnitudeisconstrainedtosomemaximumvalueduringinspirationiscalledalimitvariable.Thevariable
causingabreathtoendisthecyclevariable.Duringexpiration,theventilatorusuallymaintainssomelevelof
pressureatoraboveatmosphericpressure,whichisreferredtoasthebaselinevariable.Thus, to understand ventilators
wemustfirstunderstandtheirfourmechanical characteristics:
- Inputpower
- Powerconversionandtransmission
- Controlsystem
- Output(pressure,volume,andflowwaveforms)
The physical model (Pneumatic model) of breathing mechanics most commonly used is a rigid flow conducting tube
connectedto anelastic compartment.?Thesimplestmechanical devicewecouldadvise to
assistaperson'sbreathingwouldbeahand-driven,
syringe-typepumpthat isfittedtotheperson'smouth
andnoseusingamask.Avariationof thisistheself
inflating, elastic resuscitation bag.?Open loopcontrol isessentiallynocontrol.2.?2.3.