title: Comparative performances analysis of neonatal ventilators.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mechanical ventilation is a therapeutic action for newborns with respiratory diseases but may have side effects. Correct equipment knowledge and training may limit human errors. We aimed to test different neonatal mechanical ventilators' performances by an acquisition module (a commercial pressure sensor plus an isolated chamber and a dedicated software).
  
  
  METHODS
  The differences (ΔP) between peak pressure values and end-expiration pressure were investigated for each ventilator. We focused on discrepancies among measured and imposed pressure data. A statistical analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We investigated the measured/imposed ΔP relation. The ΔP do not reveal univocal trends related to ventilation setting parameters and the data distributions were non-Gaussian.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measured ΔP represent a significant parameter in newborns' ventilation, due to the typical small volumes. The investigated ventilators showed different tendencies. Therefore, a deep specific knowledge of the intensive care devices is mandatory for caregivers to correctly exploit their operating principles.
authors.affiliation: The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, viale Rinaldo Piaggio,34, Pontedera, PI, 56025, Italy. i.baldoli@sssup.it.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baldoli
authors.affiliation: The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, viale Rinaldo Piaggio,34, Pontedera, PI, 56025, Italy. s.tognarelli@sssup.it.
authors.forename: Selene
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tognarelli
authors.affiliation: Centro di Formazione e Simulazione Neonatale "NINA", U.O. Neonatologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, via Roma 67, Pisa, 56126, Italy. rosa.scaramuzzo@gmail.com.|Istituto di Scienze della Vita, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, piazza Martiri della Libertà 33, Pisa, 56100, Italy. rosa.scaramuzzo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rosa T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Scaramuzzo
authors.affiliation: Centro di Formazione e Simulazione Neonatale "NINA", U.O. Neonatologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, via Roma 67, Pisa, 56126, Italy. m.ciantelli@libero.it.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciantelli
authors.affiliation: The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, viale Rinaldo Piaggio,34, Pontedera, PI, 56025, Italy. f.cecchi@sssup.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cecchi
authors.affiliation: Centro di Formazione e Simulazione Neonatale "NINA", U.O. Neonatologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, via Roma 67, Pisa, 56126, Italy. gentilemarzia@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Centro di Formazione e Simulazione Neonatale "NINA", U.O. Neonatologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, via Roma 67, Pisa, 56126, Italy. e.sigali@ao-pisa.toscana.it.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sigali
authors.affiliation: Centro di Formazione e Simulazione Neonatale "NINA", U.O. Neonatologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, via Roma 67, Pisa, 56126, Italy. pghirri@med.unipi.it.|University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. pghirri@med.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghirri
authors.affiliation: Centro di Formazione e Simulazione Neonatale "NINA", U.O. Neonatologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, via Roma 67, Pisa, 56126, Italy. antonio.boldrini@med.unipi.it.|University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. antonio.boldrini@med.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boldrini
authors.affiliation: The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, viale Rinaldo Piaggio,34, Pontedera, PI, 56025, Italy. a.menciassi@sssup.it.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menciassi
authors.affiliation: The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, viale Rinaldo Piaggio,34, Pontedera, PI, 56025, Italy. c.laschi@sssup.it.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laschi
authors.affiliation: Centro di Formazione e Simulazione Neonatale "NINA", U.O. Neonatologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, via Roma 67, Pisa, 56126, Italy. acuttano@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuttano
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008422:Materials Testing; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical