The challenge for pulmonary rehabilitation of the newborn was won
7 February 2020
For pictures look for something like these: https://www.acutronic- medical.ch/en/products/fot.html
A group of researchers from the Department of Electronics, Informatics and Bioengineering of the Politecnico di Milano developed the FOT (Forced Oscillation Tecnique) ventilation system. It is an innovative method that can rapidly optimize pulmonary rehabilitation by monitoring and evaluating the respiratory function.
The FOT ventilation system is a non-invasive system applicable during mechanical ventilation. It can optimize the treatment approach which is intended to oppose the phenomenon of alveolar non-recruitment which, if not properly managed can lead even to the death of the patient. This method is based on the Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) that consists of analysing the response of the respiratory system to externally generated pressure stimuli superimposed on the patient’s spontaneous breathing. By measuring the pressure and flow signals generated by the stimulus, it is possible to evaluate the mechanical properties of the airways and pulmonary parenchyma at every instant during spontaneous breathing.
The advantages of FOT ventilation system are 1) highly reproducible measurements; 2) non-invasiveness; 3) monitoring at the patient’s bed, 4) easily integrated into modern mechanical ventilators without modifying the hardware of the available devices.
Another important advantage of the FOT ventilation system is that it can be applied to all types of mechanical ventilation, including non-invasive ventilator support.
In this context, Professor Raffaele Dellacà’s research team collaborated with an important Swiss manufacturer of mechanical ventilators and developed a product, which could be used within the paediatric and neonatal context. In fact, very young children, infants and babies need non-invasive systems that allow optimizing rehabilitation in a short time.
The technology was patented by the Politecnico di Milano and was developed through an industrial collaboration with the company. This technology has now become an effective and useful product that is ready to go out in the market and could help in treating many young patients