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Adjustable breathing resistance for laryngectomized patients: Proof of principle in a novel heat and moisture exchanger cassette
Author(s) -
Leemans Maartje,
Muller Sara H.,
Alphen Maarten J. A.,
Vallenduuk Wim,
Dirven Richard,
Brekel Michiel W. M.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.26571
Subject(s) - materials science , heat exchanger , breathing , resistance (ecology) , biomedical engineering , composite material , medicine , anesthesia , mechanical engineering , biology , engineering , ecology
Background Due to the heat and moisture exchanger's (HME) breathing resistance, laryngectomized patients cannot always use an (optimal) HME during physical exercise. We propose a novel HME cassette concept with adjustable “bypass,” to provide adjustment between different breathing resistances within one device. Methods Under standardized conditions, the resistance and humidification performance of a high resistance/high humidification HME (XM) foam in a cassette with and without bypass were compared to a lower resistance/lesser humidification HME (XF) foam in a closed cassette. Results With a bypass in the cassette, the resistance and humidification performance of XM foam were similar to those of XF foam in the closed cassette. Compared to XM foam in the closed cassette, introducing the bypass resulted in a 40% resistance decrease, whereas humidification performance was maintained at 80% of the original value. Conclusions This HME cassette prototype allows adjustment between substantially different resistances while maintaining appropriate humidification performances.