BRITISH STANDARD FOR VENTILATORS

Stockpiling Ventilators for Influenza Pandemics

Stockpiling Ventilators for Influenza Pandemics

In preparing for influenza pandemics, public health agencies stockpile critical medical resources. Determining appropriate quantities and locations for such resources can be challenging, given the considerable uncertainty in the timing and severity of future pandemics. We introduce a method for optimizing stockpiles of mechanical ventilators, which are critical for treating hospitalized influen...

British standard (BS) 5750--quality assurance?

BS5750 is the British Standard on "Quality Systems". Its equivalent in European Standards is EN29000 and in the International Standards Organisation ISO9000. This paper points out that these standards lay down formalised procedures and require documentation but do not ipso facto lead to quality assurance. The author points to the Japanese post-war industrial success as being an example of Total...

Portable ventilators

Mechanical ventilators used in intensive care units are sophisticated devices. The guiding principle in their design is the provision of optimal lung ventilation. They incorporate precise but sizeable pneumatic components intended to utilize piped gases and mains electricity. However, when transporting patients receiving ventilatory support, these devices are rarely suitable because of their si...

Varying leaks: a challenge for modern ventilators?

Using patient-triggered ventilation, during which the patient is given the opportunity to trigger and cycle the ventilator, allows reducing the use of sedation,1 reduces ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction,2 facilitates weaning from mechanical ventilation,3 and improves patient comfort.4 To be efficient and comfortable, patient-triggered modes have to deliver pressurization in synchron...