Suddenly every second counts: If the heart stops, rapid resuscitation is crucial for survival. This includes not only chest compressions but also mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose resuscitation. Many people are familiar with the theory. However, in practice, fewer and fewer people feel confident enough to perform resuscitation in an emergency. Furthermore, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, there are concerns about the risk of infection.
A team led by Thora Tech GmbH, with the participation of the Department of Health at the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM), the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU), and the German Red Cross Rescue Service Central Hesse (RDMH), is planning to develop a device for artificial ventilation using jet ventilation technology. Similar to an automated external defibrillator (AED), its use is intended to be intuitive.
The project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Science and Research with €584,381, aims to develop such an emergency ventilator over the next three years. It is intended to become part of the emergency equipment in medical and nursing facilities, public institutions, schools, universities, clubs, companies, and other locations.
“In the event of cardiac arrest, every minute counts during which the brain is deprived of blood. It is therefore crucial that resuscitation begins even before the ambulance arrives,” explains Jan Orendt, Operations Manager of RDMH and a trained paramedic himself. “For every minute, the chance of survival decreases by ten percent.” The COVID-19 pandemic has also demonstrated that it is often not just about emergency ventilation during respiratory arrest, but also about emergency respiratory support. People suffering from acute respiratory distress also need fast and uncomplicated assistance that can be used by laypersons and is available nationwide.
In addition to intuitive operation, there are other requirements: The emergency ventilator should automatically determine the oxygen concentration that needs to be pumped into the body. This is regulated by sensors that continuously measure the CO₂andO₂concentrationsin the breathing air. This means that only one gas source, namely an oxygen cylinder, needs to be connected to the device. It also requires a large battery that is always charged so that it is immediately ready for use in an emergency.
“Conventional ventilators pump oxygen into the body in the first phase, and in the second phase, they remove carbon dioxide. This causes the chest to rise and fall, just like during normal breathing,” explains Fatih Yüksel, Managing Director of Thora Tech GmbH. The new development will utilize a ventilation technique already used clinically, the so-called JET technology. Instead of sequentially, air is pumped into and expelled from the body simultaneously. “This keeps the chest stable and aligned during ventilation,” clarifies Fatih Yüksel. This is important, for example, in accidents where the upper body has been injured. It is also advantageous for imaging procedures such as computed tomography (CT) scans.
To meet these complex requirements, project partners are needed. Thora Tech GmbH is responsible for the technical implementation and sensor integration. The Small Animal Clinic at the Department of Veterinary Medicine of Justus Liebig University will initially test the planned device in computer simulations to determine the optimal design and parameter settings. The German Red Cross (DRK) rescue service in Central Hesse will contribute its practical experience and will ultimately test the device with various users at its own simulation center in Marburg. Researchers at the Department of Health at THM of Applied Sciences will investigate the specific requirements of the target groups and provide them to the developers.