Background

 

In the current hospital setting, supplemental oxygen is delivered at a constant flow rate to patients at risk for respiratory depression. This constant flowing oxygen dilutes the patient’s expired gas, which is used to monitor the patient, and thus expired gas monitors are prevented from notifying the nurse or doctor that the patient has stopped breathing.  If no intervention is made, respiratory depression may lead to brain damage or even result in death [1]. These injuries and deaths can be prevented if respiratory depression is detected early and the patient is prompted to breathe; unfortunately, due to the previously mentioned deficiencies in the existing system, healthcare professionals’ abilities to monitor patients are not sensitive enough.

 

The smart oxygen delivery system intermittently delivers oxygen as well as provides a constant stream of pressure profile data sampled from the cannula, which improves patient monitoring.  The system delivers oxygen to the patient in accordance with their natural breathing pattern rather than the constant flow method currently in use. The smart oxygen delivery device may also improve patient monitoring by allowing gas sensors to sample non-diluted expired gas. This method may also increase oxygen savings up to 70% since gas flow is shut off during patient expiration. The system will also be able to detect if the nasal cannula is inadvertently removed from the patient’s nostrils. We believe by delivering oxygen only when the patient inhales that the patient will have a more natural breathing experience, the oxygen levels of the patient will be better monitored, patient injury and death related to oxygen saturation will be reduced, there will be a savings in supplied oxygen, and fire hazards related to supplied oxygen will be reduced. 

 

[1] Lee, Lorri A., et al. "Postoperative Opioid-induced Respiratory Depression: A Closed Claims Analysis." Anesthesiology 122.3 (2015): 659.