Evaluation of the operational capabilities of a new extrathoracic negative pressure device for use in newborn infants.
We evaluated the operational capabilities of a new negative pressure incubator from Chelmsford, England prior to its use in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).  Successful manufacturer's testing had already been completed.  Teams of respiratory therapists and a biomedical engineer evaluated two identical units using 22 criteria, and results were scored on a pass/fail basis.  The device passed our evaluation; we found it to be well built and reliable, with a wide range of rate, inspiratory time, peak negative inspiratory pressure and negative expiratory extrathoracic pressure settings.  It did not pass criteria involving pressure monitor reliability, pressure relief, suction unit alarms, ease of service and service manual. This device may be used as a ventilator for intubated or non-intubated infants, in tandem with positive pressure mechanical ventilation replacing positive end-expiratory pressure with negative end-expiratory pressure, or alone in the continuous negative extrathoracic pressure mode.
Department of Respiratory Care, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI.
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J
Scotka
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Takenaka
J
J
Malstrom-Okita
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MB
Smith
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T
Mundie
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Easa
D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D013552:Swine; D015919:Ventilators, Negative-Pressure