title: In vitro investigations of jet-pulses for the measurement of respiratory impedance in newborns.
abstract: The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the measuring range and accuracy of a miniaturized equipment for respiratory impedance (Zrs) measurements in newborns using jet-pulses. Brief flow pulses (peak flow=16 L x min(-1), width=10 ms) were generated by a jet-generator consisting of a solenoid valve and an injector, situated between pneumotachograph and outflow resistance. Serially arranged resistance-inertance-compliance (R-I-C) lung models (RM=1.3-6.4 kPa x L(-1) x s, CM=7.4-36.9 mL x kPa(-1), IM=1.5 Pa x L(-1) x s2) were used to measure the real and imaginary part of Zrs between 4 and 50 Hz and to determine R, C and I by means of the method of least squares. The median errors for R, C and I were -0.1 kPa x L(-1) x s (-2%), 2.4 mL x kPa(-1)(13%) and -0.2 Pa x L(-1) x s2 (-13%) for measurements without breathing signals and 0.11 kPa x L(-1) -s (3%), 3 mL x kPa(-1) (16%) and 0.28 Pa x L (-1) x s2 (19%) in mechanically ventilated models. During spontaneous breathing the influence of the breathing flow on Zrs was negligible. The equipment did not show any nonlinearity when different pulse amplitudes were used (Vmax=13-22 L x min(-1)). The investigations have shown that jet-pulses allow reliable measurements of respiratory impedance and have the potential to provide valuable information about lung mechanics in spontaneously breathing and mechanically ventilated newborns. The developed measuring head has a low apparatus dead space, is easy to disinfect, has standard connections and can be used as the T-piece in a ventilator circuit.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Paediatrics (Charité), Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Foitzik
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hochmuth
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmalisch
mesh_terms: D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical