1. Measuring Neonatal Lung Volume
Advisor: Dr. Bill Walsh
Doug Anderson
David Lammlein
Janine McKinnon

2. Background Mechanical properties of the respiratory system
Neonatal Intensive Care
Neonatal Ventilation
Positive pressure

3. Background (cont.) Definition of resting lung volume
Purpose of measuring resting lung volume in neonates

4. Background (cont.) Methods used to measure various lung volumes
Gas dilution
Nitrogen washout
Ultrasonic flow meter
Disadvantages using current methods
Helium Dilution
Nitrogen Washout

5. Design Goals Improve on current ‘trial and error’ approach
Use primarily existing equipment
Avoid complicated, dangerous, or invasive procedures
Allow for uncooperative nature of infants

6. Market Potential
Clients: NICU (Neonate Intensive Care Unit) facilities
Competitors: Only current competitor uses pressure jacket approach. Avoiding a forceful procedure would give our product a distinct marketing advantage.
Production: Creating a simple modification to existing equipment will result in lower production costs and overhead.

7. Social Impact
Profound: Families and friends of critically ill neonates
Minimal: Environment, helium is an inert gas

8. Current Work
Research into current methods of ventilation and pulmonary function measurement
Modeling the inflow and washout of He gas in a closed system
Brainstorming on potential design options
Arranging for access to existing pulmonary function equipment

9. Future Work Continue discussion of design ideas
Consider further modeling of the system
Determine appropriate materials for prototyping
Continued collaboration with Dr. Walsh as the design progresses

10. Questions