Flow-monitoring system for high-frequency ventilation.

With the addition of appropriate logic circuitry and a single-board microcomputer, a thermistor flowmeter becomes a clinically useful ventilation monitor. The microcomputer calculates upper and lower reference (voltage) levels from the baseline (normal) flow signal generated by the thermistor bridge. If the flow signal fails to pass repetitively through one or both of these reference levels, visual and audio alarms are generated. Tests performed with both high-frequency (3 Hz) and low-frequency (0.2 Hz) ventilator systems show the usefulness of this system in sensing a variety of malfunctions, including endotracheal tube occlusions, leaks, changes in flow or tidal volume, and hose disconnects.