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18. Frequently Asked Questions
18.1 Ventilator Related Questions
18.1.0.1 What range of patients is the ventilator
designed to ventilate?
The ventilator is designed to ventilate neonates,
infants and paediatric patients from 400g to 20kg.
18.1.0.2 Can the ventilator be used without a
flow sensor?
Yes. When ventilating without using a flow sensor
the ventilator is a pressure limited, time cycled
device. The user does not have access to graphics
and lung mechanics monitoring. TTV
plus
cannot be
enabled. PSV mode functions like PTV as
termination sensitivity is no longer available.
18.1.0.3 How often must the flow sensor be
calibrated?
To maintain the integrity of the flow sensor, it should
be calibrated every 24hrs, if the patient condition
allows. If the alarm “Clean Flow Sensor” is
displayed, the flow sensor will require calibration.
18.1.0.4 What does “SENSOR
CONTAMINATION” mean?
The flow sensor is not necessarily contaminated or
dirty! If the measured flow through the flow sensor is
greater than 15l/min for 3.5 seconds, this alarm will
be displayed. That is why we advise the
disconnection of the flow sensor from the patient
circuit in the following manner:
Remove the patient circuit from the flow sensor first,
and then the flow sensor from the patient ET
connector. When re-connecting, connect the flow
sensor to the ET connector first, and then the flow
sensor to the patient circuit. This then prevents flow
from passing through the flow sensor.
If flow passes through the sensor, the flow is
ramped up in an attempt to achieve the selected
PIP. As the PIP is not achieved the flow sensor
sees this as a fault and the alarm “Clean Flow
Sensor” is generated. In this instance the flow
sensor has become saturated with flow, not
contaminated and just needs recalibration. If the
sensor is genuinely dirty the calibration will fail. You
now know that you need to replace the sensor with
a clean sensor.
18.1.0.5 What is Standby mode used for?
When the user knows that an alarm will be
generated e.g. disconnecting the circuit, the
Standby mode can be used.The ventilator stops
ventilating but maintains the mean pressure. In this
mode the alarm sound level is further reduced so as
not to be an irritant to the staff. The ventilator will
remain in the Standby mode for 90 secs before
automatically returning to the ventilation mode. If
the user has completed the procedure before that
time, simply pressing the “Standby” button will take
the user out of standby mode and back into the
selected mode of ventilation.
When in HFO and the user needs to listen to the
chest or to heart sounds, Standby can be enabled.
This will stop HFO but maintain the MAP.
18.1.0.6 What happens when the Pause button
is pressed?
Pressing the Pause button will freeze all the
waveform windows for 1 minute. Whilst the
waveforms are frozen ventilation does continue.
Pressing the Pause button anytime whilst the
waveforms are frozen will unfreeze the waveforms
18.1.0.7 What is the operating time of the
battery?
The battery is able to operate for 60 minutes.
However this is mode dependant, and in certain
modes i.e. HFO, the operational time may be less.
There is a “BATTERY LOW” alarm which alarms 15
minutes before the battery is totally discharged.
18.1.0.8 What is the battery charging time?
It takes 24hrs to fully charge the battery and 8hrs to
charge to 80%. The battery charges only when the
ventilator is in use or when in Ventilation OFF mode.
18.1.0.9 What is the difference between PTV
and PSV?
In PTV (patient triggered ventilation) the infant
initiates a breath. This breath is then supported with
pressure and oxygen by the ventilator. However the
infant cannot terminate the breath, and has to wait
until the set Ti has been reached. This mode may
be used with or without a flow sensor.
PSV has a termination sensitivity facility, which is
user adjustable. The use of a flow sensor is
required. In this mode the infant triggers a breath,
the breath is supported by the ventilator, the infant
terminates the breath. The termination sensitivity
can be adjusted from 0% - 50%. A setting of 5%
means that the flow has been reduced to 95%, and
at this level the inspiration can be terminated and
expiration can begin.
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