Low cost volume sensors for mechanical ventilators

ABSTRACT

This paper presents and compares three volume sensors to be used in mechanical ventilators developed in laboratory volume sensor based on the Pitot tube, volume sensor based on the Venturi tube and infrared(IR) volume sensor. The three sensors were calibrated and tested with a mechanical ventilator in Pressure-controlled Ventilation (PCV) mode. The maximum pressure changed, keeping textitPositive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) and respiratory rate fixed. For each maximum pressure value the value measured by the sensor was compared with the reference value, the value informed by the mechanical ventilator. The infrared sensor showed better performance for the specific application in a mechanical ventilator, being the only sensor considered adequate between the tested ones.