PORTABLE FLUIDIC HIGH FREQUENCY JET VENTILATOR

THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH WHICH INDICATES THAT HIGH FREQUENCY JET VENTILATION (HFJV) IS AN EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR MAINTAINING RESPIRATORY FUNCTION. WITH THIS TYPEOF APPROACH, THE NORMAL TIDAL VOLUME INSPIRATION/EXPIRATION CYCLE IS REPLACED WITH A SMALL HIGH FREQUENCY OSCILLATORY FLOW ADMINISTERED DIRECTLY TO THE AIRWAY BY A SMALL PERCUT- ANEOUS ACCESS. THE HIGH FREQUENCY VENTILATION CONCEPT SHOULD LEND ITSELF TO INCORPORATION INTO A SHALL, PORTABLE, AND SELF-CONTAINED VENTILATOR. IT APPEARS THAT A MOST FEASIBLE WAY OF ACCOMPLISHING THIS IS THROUGH THE USE OF FLUIDIC TECHNOLOGY TO THE CONCEPT OF AN HFJV WITH THE OBJEC-TIVE OF DEMONSTRATING THAT THESE TWO EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES CAN BE COMBINED TO PRODUCE A PRACTICAL AND USEFUL CLINICAL DEVICE. THE SPECIFIC AIMS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO: (1) SHOW THAT AN ALL-PNEUMATIC DRIVEN AND CONTROLLED CIRCUIT CAN PROVIDE BASIC HFJV FUNCTIONS; (2) ESTABLISH THAT EFFECTIVE VENTILATION IS ACHIEVABLE WITH THE ALL-PNEUMATIC HFJV SYSTEMAND (3) DEMONSTRATE THAT A SMALL, PORTABLE SELF-CONTAINED HFJV SYSTEM IS A PRACTICAL DESIGN CONCEPT.