Table 1.
Compares a number of intensive care ventilators’ technical specifications gathered form NHS [19, 20], WHO [11] and CONSIP S.p.A. [21] (held by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, it is the purchasing centre of the Italian Public Administration sector). Technical indicators were grouped into eleven classes: (i) controls/setting ranges, (ii) invasive and non-invasive ventilation modes, (iii) patient assessment tools, (iv) integrated capabilities, (v) monitored/displayed parameters, (vi) patient alarms, (vii) equipment alarms, (viii) display, (ix) patient transport capability, (x) on-board air compressor or turbine, (xi) internal back-up battery. Each detailed indicator has been made explicit according to the data retrieved from the three organizations websites
| TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS |
CONSIP S.p.A RECOMMENDED INTENSIVE CARE VENTILATORS’ SPECIFICATIONS |
NHS RECOMMENDED INTENSIVE CARE VENTILATORS’ SPECIFICATIONS |
WHO RECOMMENDED INTENSIVE CARE VENTILATORS’ SPECIFICATIONS |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 80601-2-12:2011 COMPLIANT | Required | Required | |
| PATIENT TYPE | Adult, pediatric | Adult | Adult, pediatric |
| CONTROLS/SETTING RANGES | |||
| Tidal volume, mL | Required at least one setting of 400 ml, Preferred: 350–450 or 250–600 or up to 800 | 20–2000 | |
| Respiratory rate, breaths/min | 10–30 | 10–60 | |
| Trigger mechanism | pressure, flow with high sensitivity (>0,3 l/min) | Required | |
| FiO2, % | 21–100 | Required at least 50% or 60% and 100% options. Preferred 30–100 (35–80% for CPAP) | 21–100 |
| Inspiratory flow rate, L/min | 0–200 | 0–100 | 1–160 |
| Inspiratory pressure, cm H2O | 15–40 | 0–40 | |
| IE ratio | Adjustable |
Required. 1:2 (i.e. expiration lasts twice as long as inspiration) Preferred: adjustable (1:1–1:3) |
Required |
| PEEP/CPAP, cm H2O | 5–20 (5–15 for CPAP) | 0–20 | |
| Pressure support, cm H2O | Required | 0–35 (max 70) | 5–20 adjustable |
| Leak compensation | Required | ||
| INVASIVE and NON INVASIVE VENTILATION MODES | |||
| CMV - volume controlled (VCV) | Required | Required | Required |
| Volume assist/control mode (VCAC) | Required | ||
| Synchronized Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation (SIMV) | Preferred | Required | |
| CMV- pressure controlled (PCV) | Required | Required | Required |
| Pressure support mode (PSV) | Required | Required | |
| Pressure assist/control mode (PCAC) | Required | ||
| Pressure Regulated Volume Controlled (PRVC) | Required | Required | |
| Non-invasive ventilation (CPAP, BIPAP) | Required | Required | Required |
| High-frequency ventilation | Preferred | ||
| PATIENT ASSESSMENT TOOLS | |||
| Maximum waveforms displayed | At least 3 waveforms displayed at the same time | At least 3 | |
| Lung recruitment tools (PV loops) | At least 2 loops at the same time | At least 3 | |
| Capnography/CO2 monitoring | Required | Preferred | |
| Other patient assessment tools | Required: Endotracheal and tracheostomy tube compensation | ||
| INTEGRATED CAPABILITIES | |||
| Integrated nebulizer | Required | ||
| Other integrated capabilities | Preferred inlet gas supply (O2), | Required. inlet gas supply (O2) pressure range 35 psi to 65 ps. | |
| MONITORED/DISPLAYED PARAMETERS | |||
| Peak inspiratory pressure | Required | Required | |
| Airway pressure | Required | Required | |
| PEEP pressure | Required | Required | Required |
| Tidal volume | Required | Required | Required |
| Minute volume | Required | Required | |
| Spontaneous minute volume | Required | ||
| FiO2 (analyzed %) | Required | Required | Required |
| Respiratory rate | Required | Required | Required |
| Resistance | Required | ||
| Static and dynamic Compliance | Required | ||
| IE ratio | Required | ||
| Others | Continuous high pressure/occlusion, Required | Required: Ventilation mode | |
| PATIENT ALARMS | |||
| Low/high FiO2 | Visual and audible Required | Visual and audible Required | |
| Low minute volume | Visual and audible Required | Visual and audible Required | |
| High minute volume | Visual and audible Required | Visual and audible Required | |
| Low inspiratory pressure | Required | Required | Visual and audible Required |
| High pressure | Required | Required | Visual and audible Required |
| Loss of PEEP | Required | ||
| Apnea | Required | Visual and audible Required (adjustable) | |
| Continuous high pressure/occlusion | Visual and audible Required | ||
| Inverse IE ratio | |||
| High respiratory rate | Visual and audible Required | Visual and audible Required | |
| High PEEP | Required | Visual and audible Required | |
| Breathing circuit disconnect | Required | required | Visual and audible Required |
| High/low Tidal Volume | Required | Required | Required |
| EQUIPMENT ALARMS | |||
| Gas supply failure | Visual and audible Required | Required | Visual and audible Required |
| Power failure | Visual and audible Required | Required | Visual and audible Required |
| Vent inoperative | Required | Visual and audible Required | |
| Low battery | Required | Visual and audible Required | |
| Self-diagnostics | Visual and audible Required | ||
| DISPLAY | |||
| Type | touch screen | ||
| Size, cm (in) | >30 (12) | ||
| PATIENT TRANSPORT CAPABILITY | Required | Required | |
| Optional equipment required for patient transport | Cart | Cart | |
| ON-BOARD AIR COMPRESSOR OR TURBINE | Required | Required Air Compressor, Air turbine is an alternative | |
| INTERNAL BACK-UP BATTERY | Required | Required | Required |
| Operating time, hr | >30 min | >20 min | ≥1 |