Infant lung health: Driving innovations in ventilator systems

Rapid changes for the better has been the theme of all medical technology equipment, ventilators being no exception. Explore the improvements happening in ventilators to address the treatment needs of neonatal patients in this article

- ASHOK PATEL

With sustained innovation and investment continuously driving the med-tech industry, ventilators have been no exception. Given their lifesaving character, companies and brands - whether big or small - are doing everything in their power to add more features, improve functioning and in general elevate the patient experience and outcome. This pursuit of innovation and improvement has been underway for all types of ventilators, for all patient cases and all patient age groups. Among different age groups, ventilators for neonatal patients have particularly received much attention and focus in recent times.

What are some of those 'upgrades' and improvements which are changing the way ventilators function today while attending to neonatal patients, infants and even small babies? In other words, how ventilator systems are being improvised and innovated upon for neonatal patients and other small babies today?

A condition that impacts the breathing of newborns and infants is the Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). This is because of lack of surfactant, a foamy surface which helps to keep the lungs expanded. Yet another condition is Broncho pulmonary Dyspasia (BPD) which can happen to preterm babies due to infection or inflammation of lungs, or the lungs not developing normally. In this backdrop, there is a colossal need for breathing assistance to newborns and infants wherein ventilators can and do play a huge role.

How neonatal ventilators are evolving