PORTABLE POWER-SUPPLY FOR CONTINUOUS MECHANICAL VENTILATION DURING INTRAHOSPITAL TRANSPORT OF CRITICALLY-ILL PATIENTS WITH ARDS

Patients with respiratory failure and poor pulmonary compliance requir ing high levels of positive pressure ventilation are at high risk duri ng intrahospital transportation. Most ICU ventilators currently do not have a built-in power supply. Manual bag-valve ventilation frequently is used but often without optimum mean airway pressures or minute ven tilation guarantees. Transport ventilators also are limited in their a bility to provide high positive end-expiratory pressure, variable insp iratory-expiratory ratios, or pressure-controlled ventilation. The 3M SARNS HELP (Hospital Emergency Limited Power) 115, a portable battery, provides continuous power to ICU ventilators and eliminates ventilato r circuit interruption for the critical period of patient transportati on.