Inspired thinking

The

has awarded the

a grant to develop a device to perform lung function tests on anaesthetised patients and ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICU).

Lung function tests are commonly performed on patients in specialised pulmonary function laboratories or in cardiopulmonary units in hospitals. Various cardiopulmonary function tests are performed, usually on hospital outpatients, and these require the co-operation of the patient and interaction between the clinician and patient.

In contrast, patients in hospital intensive care units (ICUs) are dependent upon complex life support and monitoring equipment, such that they cannot be moved easily to the testing unit.

The commonest reason for admission to the ICU is the need for mechanical ventilatory support, known as life-support. These patients are not able to participate in any form of lung function testing involving voluntary action, nor can these patients be easily transferred or disconnected from their ventilatory support.

Critical illness, including severe sepsis and mechanical ventilation itself, can lead to severe lung abnormalities, decreased effective lung volume and decreased efficiency of gas exchange between the lung and the blood. Those patients who would benefit most from lung function and cardiopulmonary tests are therefore the most difficult to assess by conventional means.