the importance of biomedical-engineers in medical device sector cover photo

The Importance of Biomedical Engineers in Medical Device Sector

The medical device sector is the point where healthcare meets technology and here, you cannot ignore the importance of biomedical engineering. This field ensures rapid advancements in the development of several life-saving medical devices, be it diagnostic tools or therapeutic instruments. Only when the cutting-edge engineering technology combines with the knowledge of the medical sector, do you get solutions for complex healthcare problems. As a result, there is rising demand for biomedical engineers.

This article will discuss everything about the role, contributions and importance of biomedical engineers in the medical device sector.

importance of biomedical engineers

Definition and Scope of Biomedical engineering

In the field of biomedical engineering, biomedical engineers apply design concepts and engineering principles to biology and medicine to develop healthcare solutions. The activities may range from developing medical and diagnostic equipment, creating biocompatible materials and therapeutic strategies.

Medical devices and biomedical engineering

Biomedical engineers use their expertise to improve and innovate medical devices required for diagnosis, treatment and care of the patients; right from the concept to getting regulatory approval. These devices may include imaging systems like ultrasound and MRI, robotic surgical tools and other therapeutic devices and implantable devices like pacemaker and other artificial organs. The biomedical engineers mainly aim to develop devices which are effective, safe, reliable and comply with the stringent healthcare standards.

Biomedical engineering plays an important role in enhancing diagnostic accuracy and improving treatment results for the betterment of the patients’ life.

Roles and responsibilities of biomedical engineers:

Biomedical engineers have a pivotal role in bringing together healthcare and engineering innovation. The main role and responsibilities include:

  • Designing and development of medical devices to meet specific medical needs by doing research, conceptualizing product designs, and using computational tools to optimize device performance.
  • Testing prototypes to ensure they comply with all safety and efficiency standards and pass through all rigorous testing processes.
  • Close collaboration with healthcare providers to comprehend medical requirements and use feedback in device improvement.
  • Implementing and integrating new technologies in the clinical practice
  • Providing training to medical personnel for the use and maintenance of the devices

Contributions to Medical Device Development

All thanks to the expertise and knowledge of biomedical engineers, it is possible to drive innovation and technical advancements in the medical device sector. By combining their engineering knowledge with biology understanding, they can create practical solutions.

The Role of Biomedical Engineers in Design and Development Processes

In the initial stages of developing medical devices, they collaborate with healthcare professionals to identify their needs. Based on that they conceptualize and design a new medical device. For this, they integrate advanced materials, use innovative electronics and software to get a fully-functional, reliable and user-friendly product prototype.

This prototype design is based on the intensive research of engineers in interdisciplinary fields like bioinformatics, biomechanics and biomaterials. With this research, they explore new materials, technologies and methodologies for developing medical devices which are functional, safe and durable.

Once the prototype is ready, biomedical engineers validate the design through experimentation, modeling and simulation and optimize it to meet all sorts of clinical and regulatory requirements.

Not only the design and development of medical devices, biomedical engineers also strive to integrate modern technologies like robotics, AI and nanotechnology on their products. These technologies enable medical devices to perform tasks more precisely, automatically and also provide real time data on improved treatment outcomes.

biomedical engineering

Role of Biomedical Engineers in Maintenance and Repair of Medical Devices

Apart from the design and development of devices, biomedical engineers also play a major role in the maintenance and repair of these devices. This ensures that they remain functional, reliable and safe in their healthcare operations.

Their main role in repairing and maintenance include:

  • Preventive maintenance to ensure ongoing longevity and reliability of devices. For this, they schedule regular maintenance based on the industry standards and manufacturer’s guidelines. In this, they often check performance, replace components if required and conduct inspections.
  • For any malfunctions and emergency issues, biomedical engineers perform troubleshooting and diagnostics with the help of different software, diagnostic tools and their technical expertise. They find the root cause of the issue and apply corrective measures.
  • Perform servicing and repairs to restore the functional aspects of the devices. Engineers have technical expertise to disassemble the whole devices, repair and replace the faulty components and recalibrate the medical devices to perform their specific functions. While repairing, engineers follow stringent protocols and quality assurance measures.
  • Based on the user feedback, biomedical engineers continuously work to improve the device performance metrics. They also propose any enhancements, upgrades and modifications in the design to match the product with the evolving medical needs.

Education and Competencies of Biomedical Engineers

In this fast-evolving field of healthcare solutions, the importance of biomedical engineers cannot be denied. However, to be a biomedical engineer, one should have the right education, skills and competencies. Most biomedical engineers hold a bachelor’s degree in biomedical or any related engineering field such as mechanical, chemical, and electrical. For advanced degrees, one can go for Masters or Ph.D. in biomedical engineering or any specialized engineering or medical field.

Additionally, a biomedical engineer needs to have some core competencies. For instance, they should have a strong foundation of all biomedical and engineering subjects. Skill for medical device development is also an essential part of their education. Further, they must also be proficient in biomedical instrumentation and should be well-versed with regulatory requirements of the medical field.

This diverse skill set and comprehensive education help biomedical engineers contribute towards the advancement and innovation of healthcare technology. Further, it is also essential for them to continuously upgrade their education and implement the new and evolving technologies in the field.

Future Role and Importance of Biomedical Engineering

The Future Role and Importance of Biomedical Engineering

As advancements in technology and new requirements occur, the role and importance of biomedical engineering will continue to expand. To this end, biomedical engineers will continue to develop medical technologies like implantable devices, wearable health monitors, and personalized clinical solutions.

Further, we may also witness the integration of AI, big data analytics and machine learning in devices for more predictive analysis and precise diagnosis.

Apart from this, there will be innovation in imaging technologies like CT scans and MRI, resulting in improvement in their speed, accessibility and resolution. There will be greater inclination towards therapeutic procedures like robotic surgeries, minimally invasive surgeries and targeted drug delivery equipment.

To make the medical devices more affordable and approachable, biomedical engineers will continue to work on developing affordable and portable devices for remote populations.

All this will go hand in hand with ethical consideration and regulatory compliances to ensure safety, equity and privacy in healthcare device distribution.

In Conclusion

And similar efforts have been undertaken by Biosys Biomedical, a company actively involved in the manufacturing of highly innovative and advanced medical devices. We design, develop, and manufacture state-of-the-art devices to meet the evolving clinical needs of the healthcare industry. Contact us for more information.

References

history-of-global-pandemics-and-epidemics-cover

History of Global Pandemics and Epidemics

history of global pandemics and epidemics

Introduction: The Impact of Pandemics on Humanity Throughout History

A little over four years ago, the world was reminded once again of the frailty of life, illness, death, global disease, and global disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic. Words like quarantine, lockdown, pandemic, social distancing, hand-washing, sanitizers, and isolation, among others became a part of our day-to-day language. The impact of the most recent pandemic was far-reaching worldwide. The social, emotional, economic, and political disruption felt in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is starkly reminiscent of the generalized impact associated with pandemics and epidemics from time immemorial.

Pandemics and epidemics have always been a part of human history, and they remain so as the COVID-19 pandemic proved just recently. Pandemics and epidemics of flu, cholera, malaria, and HIV/AIDS are still a part of daily living across the world. From medieval times to the present time, humans have lived with disease causing organisms, and human disruption of the social and biological strata often leads to infection with some disease causing organisms, with increased industrialization and globalization leading to the eventual spread beyond the initial area of contact. 

Pandemics and Epidemics are used to show the extent of the spread of infectious and non-infectious disease conditions, with the difference being the extent and area of spread. To help understand the difference between epidemic and pandemic, it is crucial to also understand some key public health terms such as outbreak and endemic. An outbreak refers to an unexpected increase in the number of people with a particular health condition or the spread of a health condition in a new area. Endemic means that the health condition occurs at an anticipated rate in a geographical area. An epidemic is an outbreak that spreads to a larger geographical area; meaning an unexpected increase in health conditions or new cases of a health condition across larger geographical areas. Pandemic is an epidemic that spreads across continents globally.1,2

From Ancient Times To The Middle Ages: Historical Pandemics

Pandemics have been around since ancient times. Some of the pandemics recorded in history from ancient times to the Middle Ages include:

  • Athenian Plague: This occurred between 430-26 BC during the Peloponnesian war between Athens and Sparta.3 Originating from Ethiopia and spreading throughout Egypt and Greece, the initial symptoms were headaches, conjunctivitis, body rash, and fever followed by later symptoms of hemoptysis (coughing out blood), stomach pain, vomiting, and eventual death in most people.3,1 The war led to the rapid spread of the disease and was marked by the mortality of about 25% of the city’s population, despair, and breakdown of law and order.3, 1
  • Antonine Plague: Also known as the ague of Galen, it occurred between 165 – 180 AD in the Roman Empire.1 It was transmitted into the Empire by soldiers returning from war, spreading to a larger geographical area including Asia Minor, Greece, Egypt, and Italy.4 About 33% of the population or 5 million people including Marcus Aurelius, the emperor, died of the pandemic.4,3 Symptoms were rashes, fever, pustules, and bloody diarrhea.1,3 It is thought to be part of the factors that led to the downfall of the Roman Empire.
  • Justinian Plague: Named after Justinian 1, the Byzantine emperor at that time, the plague caused by Yersinia pestis occurred in 541 CE ravaging the Roman world and beyond.5 Hallucinations preceded other symptoms such as fever; cough fatigue; buboes in the groin, armpit, or behind the ear; lethargy, and eventual death.3,1 Between 5,000 – 10,000 people were thought to have died daily in Constantinople, and total death from the plague is estimated to be between 25 – 100 million.4,5 The emperor himself was infected, but he didn’t succumb to the plague.5 The plague resulted in food scarcity, starvation, economic instability, breakdown of law and order, and a stop in the military conquest of Rome.5,3

The Black Death: Also known simply as the Plague, it is thought to be the most fatal pandemic in human history. Originating from China in 1334, the plague spread across Europe, Asia, and Africa and was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.6,1 Symptoms included fever, chills, fatigue, vomiting, buboes.2 The Plague is thought to have claimed 75 – 200 million lives and wiped out about 30% of Europe’s population. 2,4,1 Economic instability, the emergence of the middle class, the breakdown of law and order, antisemitism, turmoil, widespread destruction, food scarcity, and starvation were some of the aftermaths of the plague.6

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Depiction of the 17th-century plague in Italy at the Museo Storico Nazionale Dell’Arte Sanitaria in Rome. C: De Agostini/Getty

New World and Eurasia Pandemics

The European exploration of the Americas known as the Columbian Exchange resulted in the exchange of more than just food, animals, plants, ideas, and population. Disease exchange was another important tradeoff. Prior to the invasion by the Europeans, the Native Americans had no contact with diseases that affected Eurasia such as smallpox, whooping cough, malaria, influenza, typhus, diphtheria, and chickenpox, hence; they had no immunity to the diseases.7,8 

In the years after the exploration, these diseases became epidemic in the New World (The Americas). The mortality rate in various villages, cities, and towns was as high as 80%, and 90%, and in some cases, entire populations such as the Taino people were wiped out and became virtually extinct.8

The massive loss of human lives led to disruption in ecosystem as forests grew rapidly and animals increased.9 Economically, labour shortage ensued and also led to the Transatlantic Slave Trade establishment.9

history of global pandemics and epidemics slider 3

Industrial Revolution and Pandemics in the Modernization Process

The 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries heralded huge development in industrialization, modernization, and technological advancement. Rise in infectious diseases, and resultant pandemics and epidemics were also part of this development. Notable among these are the cholera pandemic, the Spanish flu, and the Asian Flu. 

Asian Flu: This was caused by the H2N2 influenza virus in 1957 which originated from China.4 It spread to the United States of America, Hong Kong, England, Scotland, and Singapore within months.1, 4,11 The estimated death toll during the pandemic is between 1 – 2 million. 1,4,11 

The Seven Cholera Pandemics: Caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholera, and spread through the fecal-oral route, the cholera pandemic was formerly endemic to Asia until 1817 when it spread from India to other parts of the world in what is known as the first cholera pandemic.2,10 Advancements in transportation systems aided it’s rapid spread. Subsequently, five other cholera pandemics occurred between 1827 to 1923. During the third cholera pandemic, the physician John Snow was able to trace the source of the outbreak to contaminated public water2. The seventh cholera pandemic began in 1961, and it is thought to be ongoing.1 The cholera pandemic led to sanitation emerging as a public health measure.2, 10

The Spanish Flu: The 1918 Spanish flu pandemic started in Kansas and was spread by troops.1 The H1N1 of avian origin was the cause of the Spanish flu, and symptoms were cough, fever, weakness, malaise, and nose bleeding in some mild and severe cases.1, 3 Personal hygiene and quarantine were the major public prevention health measures put in place during the pandemic.1 

Asian Flu: This was caused by the H2N2 influenza virus in 1957 which originated from China.4 It spread to the United States of America, Hong Kong, England, Scotland, and Singapore within months.1, 4,11 The estimated death toll during the pandemic is between 1 – 2 million. 1,4,11

Global Pandemics and Epidemics in the Modern Era

In modern times, pandemics and epidemics still continue to be a big part of our lives. Viruses majorly affecting the respiratory system have led to several epidemics and pandemics in the modern era. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is also another modern pandemic that humans still grapple with. 

  • The HIV/AIDS pandemic: In the 1980s, scientists first discovered the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the United States of America.3 It spreads through contact with body fluid such as blood, and breast milk, and through sexual intercourse and from an infected mother to her unborn child.11 HIV attacks and weakens the immune system, especially as it progresses to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) if left untreated.11 The HIV/AIDS pandemic affects people across countries and populations, and it is more prevalent in Sub-Saharan African countries. Worldwide, HIV is thought to affect about 40 million people.3,11 It is one of the pandemics that has received widespread attention from local, regional, and global public health institutions and pharmaceutical companies in terms of research, funding, and treatment.1
  • SARS: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS CoV), and it originated in China in 2003 spreading to 29 countries.1,2 Case identification, contact tracing, isolation, and surveillance were the public health measures used in containing the spread of the pandemic.1
  • MERS: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) was caused by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS CoV) which was first reported in Saudi Arabia.1,2 Symptoms include cough, sore throat, fever, and chills and those above 65 years are more likely to have severe disease.2

COVID-19 Pandemic: New Pandemic Challenge of The 21st Century

Spreading from Wuhan, China to the rest of the world faster than earlier pandemics, the COVID-19 pandemic showed how swiftly pandemics can spread in this era owing to improvements in transportation, technology, and globalization. The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The Coronaviruses belong to the family Coronaviridae, and there are four genera which are alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. The SARS CoV, MERS CoV and the SARS-CoV-2 are all in the beta-coronavirus genera.2 
Dry cough, fever, fatigue, malaise, rhinorrhea, headache, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of sense of smell (anosmia) were some of the symptoms of the pandemic. 1,2,4 The COVID-19 pandemic led to a lot of public health measures. Isolation, quarantine, physical distancing, use of face masks, appropriate coughing etiquette, case identification, contact tracing, border closure, closure of public gathering sites, stay-at-home orders, movement, and transport restrictions were measures put in place by different countries to curb the pandemic. 2,11 Subsequently, vaccines were also produced and approved for use.

Social, Economic, and Political Impact of Epidemic Diseases

Pandemics and Epidemics are known for the enormous disruption they wreck on every life facet. Some of the impacts include:

Death, loss, and grief: High mortality rate means that survivors might be thrown into grief and survivor’s guilt. Distress could also set in.1,2,3

Financial and Economic Impact: Labour shortages when death tolls are high during pandemics have been recorded. Starvation and food scarcity are also economical effects of pandemics. 1,10 During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health measures put in place such as restricted movement; lockdowns; closure of public gathering centers such as schools, and religious institutions; and border closures; affected trade, livelihood, and the economy. 2,4,5

Social Impact: The breakdown of law and order was associated with earlier pandemics.1,3 Physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic restricted movement and social gatherings.2

Political Impact: Social unrest could also lead to political instability. For example, the Antonine Plague is thought to be one of the factors that led to the downfall of the Roman Empire.1,3 

The burden on the healthcare sector: The healthcare system takes a huge toll during pandemics. Healthcare workers become overburdened, equipment is used rapidly and needs to be produced just as fast, and medical ethics dilemmas set in.1

Global Responses and Preventive Strategies Against Pandemics

Strategies to prevent pandemics have emerged in the face of combating them. During the Black Death, quarantine surfaced as a means of curbing the pandemic.1,2,3 Also, the Cholera pandemic led to the public health prevention measure of Sanitation.1,2,3 The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased global preparedness for pandemics. Vaccination is another key preventive measure pandemics have brought about. The SARS-CoV pandemic utilized contact tracing, isolation, surveillance, and personal hygiene.1, 2The COVID-19 pandemic saw public health and pharmaceutical companies on their toes as vaccine, medication, and public health measures to curb the pandemic were put in place.1,2,3, 11
Lessons Learned From Pandemics Throughout History

Man’s disruption of ecological strata, climate change, and increased contact between humans and animals have been found culpable in pandemics.1,2,3,11 Also, globalization aids the rapid spread of diseases.10 Preventive measures such as hygiene, use of masks, and cough etiquette have been learned and continue to stay relevant.1,2,3,11

Global health surveillance of new infections has also received a lot of attention. Strategies for curbing spread such as quarantine, border closure, movement restriction, case identification, and tracing have also been learned.1,2,3,4,11 Institutions globally are now paying more attention to public health. More funding, research, and commitment are given to the health sector. The pharmaceutical industry has also rapidly evolved and become swifter in producing medications and vaccines as evidenced by the last pandemic.2,1,11

Conclusion: The Lasting Effects of Pandemics on Humanity

Pandemics, especially the last one have heightened and tightened public health measures and reminded everyone that a pandemic is never far away.1,2 Global health institutions and pharmaceutical companies have seen a lot of improvement in dealing with pandemics as the COVID-19 early vaccine production and strict public health measures showed.1,2,3,4 Preparation for the next pandemic is given to every individual, country, health institution, pharmaceutical sector, and global health institution. 

References

  1. Sampath S, Khedr A, Qamar S, Tekin A, Singh R, Green R, Kashyap R. Pandemics throughout the history. Cureus. 2021 Sep;13(9). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8525686/
  2. Piret J, Boivin G. Pandemics throughout history. Frontiers in microbiology. 2021 Jan 15;11:631736. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.631736/full
  3. Huremović D. Brief history of pandemics (pandemics throughout history). Psychiatry of pandemics: a mental health response to infection outbreak. 2019:7-35. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7123574/
  4. Outbreak: 10 of the worst pandemics in History – MPH Online [Internet]. MPH Online. 2021. Available from: https://www.mphonline.org/worst-pandemics-in-history/
  5. Others FBA. Plague of Justinian | Description & Facts [Internet]. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2024. Available from: https://www.britannica.com/event/plague-of-Justinian
  6. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Black Death | Definition, Cause, Symptoms, Effects, death toll, & facts [Internet]. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2024. Available from: https://www.britannica.com/event/Black-Death/Effects-and-significance
  7. Nunn N, Qian N. The Columbian exchange: A history of disease, food, and ideas. Journal of Economic Perspectives. 2010 May 1;24(2):163-88. Available from: https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/jep.24.2.163
  8. McNeill JR. Columbian Exchange | Diseases, Animals, & Plants [Internet]. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2024. Available from: https://www.britannica.com/event/Columbian-exchange
  9. NCPedIa | NCPedIa [Internet]. Available from: https://www.ncpedia.org/anchor/columbian-exchange
  10. Mackenbach JP. Health problems of industrializing societies. In: BRILL eBooks [Internet]. 2020. p. 149–216. Available from: https://brill.com/display/book/9789004429130/BP000007.xml
  11. Miller K. 6 of the Worst Pandemics in History [Internet]. Health. 2023. Available from: https://www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/worst-pandemics-in-history
Heated and Humidified High Flow Oxygen

What is the Role of Heated and Humidified High Flow Oxygen In Respiratory Support?

Generally, there are two common ways of administering oxygen therapy. One of these is the high-flow device method like air entrainment masks or non-rebreathers. While the other known as low-flow devices use nasal cannula or masks. Many a time, the high-flow nasal cannula are often administered during surgical procedures. Evidence also suggests that this humidified oxygen therapy is safer at a stand-alone surgical IMCU. 
Therefore, why is heated and humidified high-flow oxygen (HFNC) necessary for respiratory support? Continue reading to know more.

Heated and Humidified High Flow Oxygen

Understanding Heated and Humidified High-Flow Oxygen Therapy

High-flow oxygen is a respiratory therapy that supplies oxygen at a significantly higher rate. It is a medical device that usually serves as a breathing support for ICU patients. Additionally, it delivers oxygen continuously through a tube inserted into the nostrils. This ventilation supply often aids patient comfort, because they are always humidified and warmed to 37°. 

On most occasions, this therapy is mostly used to treat patients experiencing respiratory distress. Also, heated and humidified high-flow oxygen therapy is always provided if standard oxygen therapy isn’t working. Hence, it helps lessen the effort your body must expend on breathing. Apart from reducing respiration effort, it also produces slight positive pressure in the upper airways.

How Does Heated and Humidified High-Flow Oxygen Work?

Unlike conventional low-flow oxygen, HFNC delivers its maximum oxygen rate beyond 30 L/min. Also, this High-flow oxygen isn’t merely a regular nasal cannula but one that’s increased extremely. However, there are some key steps in which heated and humidified high-flow oxygen is produced. Some of these are:

  1. Oxygen Heat-Up: In most cases, HFNC always heats oxygen to the same temperature as the body. Furthermore, they often provide 37 degrees Celsius of air during inspiration.
  2. High flow of gas: Additionally, this breathing support works by providing oxygen gas (FiO2) at an elevated inflow rate. It supplies about 1.00% fiO2 at up to 60 liters per minute of flow.
  3. Provides Humidified Air: Because high-flow therapy is often administered at a high standard, the gas is always humidified. Therefore, inhaled air often contains moisture that is the same as normal air.
  4. Supplied through Device: Just like any other assisted ventilator, this ventilation support is also supplied via devices. Also, depending on the patient’s fiO2 requirement, the delivering device might be nasal cannulas or masks.
Heated and Humidified High Flow Oxygen

Indication for Using Heated and Humidified High-Flow Oxygen

Sometimes, when standard oxygen therapy fails to improve low oxygen levels, HFNC may be used. In most cases, this heated and humidified high-flow oxygen is often used to support patients experiencing respiratory distress. Nevertheless, some of the breathing issues that always indicate high-flow oxygen usage are as follows:

  • Congestive heart failure
  • Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
  • Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
  • Bronchial asthma
  • Bronchopneumonia
  • Pulmonary edema
  • Intensive phase of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Broken ribs and other types of chest trauma 
High-Flow Oxygen

Benefits of Heated and Humidified High Flow Oxygen in Respiratory Care

When compared to traditional oxygen therapy, HFNC offers numerous advantages. They are known as a heated and humidified system that enables easy flow of oxygen. In addition, the fraction of inspired oxygen (fiO2) can be regulated at an extreme inflow rate. Therefore, what are the benefits of high-flow oxygen for patients with respiratory disease?

Accurate Oxygen Distribution

In normal circumstances, the oxygen delivery rates of HFNCs are usually higher than those with traditional nasal cannulas. As a result of this, there is always a limited room air retainment. Besides, it also provides a high amount of oxygen that overcomes the patient’s peak inspiratory flow rate. Therefore, it doesn’t dilute the oxygen wished to give a patient. 

Improves Functional Residual Capacity (FRC)

By supplying a varying amount of positive pressure, high-flow therapy also affects the FRC rate. This is often determined by the placement of manometers at the posterior oropharynx. On most occasions, the readings of this pressure are not always very high during closed-mouth breathing. However, when patients open their mouths, the impact nearly disappears. Additionally, research indicates that the application of HFNC readily results in a 25% improvement in FRC.

Dead space Clearance

Additionally, with heated and humidified high-flow oxygen breathing is usually more efficient. Why? This is because the continuous high oxygen flow often eliminates anatomical dead spaces present in the airways. In addition, the warm, heated air always assists with mucus and foreign particles and also reduces the energy for breathing.

Humidified Oxygen

Comparing Heated and Humidified High-Flow Oxygen to Traditional Oxygen Therapy

When comparing high-flow oxygen to traditional oxygen, several differences and similarities can be extracted. However, some following points indicate the similarities of both systems.

  1. Most of the time, both devices supply FiO2 at a variable concentration
  2. They also serve as respiratory support
  3. Neither traditional oxygen nor HFNC are delivered in the invasive mode
  4. In most cases, they are simple to administer and easily adjustable
  5. Either of the two systems can be used effectively in similar clinical conditions e.g. COPD cases, acute respiratory failure etc.

Although, heated and humidified high-flow oxygen provides some similar functions to traditional oxygen. Hence, this high-flow device also has some specialty when compared to the low-flow. Some of these significant features are:

  1. The ability to provide oxygen gas at a very high rate that ranges between 30 to 60 L/min
  2. Capacity to actively moisturize inflow air
  3. Provision warm oxygen that complies with body temperature
  4. Prevent airway problems and complications by maintaining and clearing respiratory dead spaces
  5. HFNC is also more effective at improving oxygenation, especially in hypoxemic patients.

Considerations for Implementing Heated and Humidified High-Flow Oxygen

Normally, heated and humidified high-flow oxygen is easy to use. Nonetheless, some integral factors must be considered while implementing this device. Hence, I would like to give you some basic “DEDEVUS” processes that must be considered while using HFNC.

  • Determine your patient condition and device compliance rate
  • Ensure a proper setting of the system: You must make sure the high-flow device is in good form. Additionally, thighs like the flow rate, FiO2 level, filter, battery, and ventilation slot should be examined thoroughly.
  • Don’t place a patient on high-flow oxygen immediately after the device is turned on.
  • Examine your oxygenation channels: It’s very important to verify the O2 tube connection and adjust flow to prevent FiO2 delay and regulate the flowmeter. In addition, ensure to set your internal alarm menu and avoid smoking.
  • Verify humidification supply: Things like sterile water, plastic bags, and caps should be checked thoroughly. Also, the water bag must not be empty and the permeable circuit must be monitored at every interval.
  • Use the appropriate tube and cannula with the correct placement
  • Set alarm 

Future Directions and Innovations in Heated and Humidified High-Flow Oxygen Technology

In the modern world, almost every aspect of life is gradually evolving. Some of these have led to several innovative improvements in the medical world and assisted ventilation to be precise. Hence, heated and humidified high-flow oxygen isn’t left aside. Also, most scientists believe they are one of the best and most dynamic mechanical ventilation systems. Therefore what are high-flow oxygen future trends? 

Be informed that several innovative directions of HFNC are yet to be seen. However, some of these potential features and trends, such as precise delivery, flexibility, patient compliance, personalized treatment, etc are expected to emerge soon.

Biosys Biomedical: A Reliable Respiratory Support

Heated and humidified high-flow oxygen therapy is a modern method that provides a great deal of warmed and moisturized oxygen. It is a special device with significant advantages that plays a key role in patient outcomes. Additionally, this system is a breathing support that requires proper examination before implementation as it differs from traditional oxygen therapy. Above all, it’s also a ventilation system with diverse emerging future directions. 

However, high-flow oxygen is a medical therapy that requires professionalism. So, if you are looking for a reliable source of respiratory support, you can reach out to Biosys Biomedical today. With no more ado, schedule an appointment for effective HFNC support today!

References