Project # 140
Rainout Minimizing Device for Neonatal Respiratory Circuits

Team Lead:	Savannah Le
Other Team Members:	Bryanna Morales \| Drista Pandey
Faculty Advisor(s):	Dr. Salman Sohrabi
Department:	BE
Project Type:	Senior Design
Title:	Rainout Minimizing Device for Neonatal Respiratory Circuits
Abstract:	Pediatric patients (particularly neonates) are mechanically ventilated with a heated and humidified respiratory circuit that often gets rainout from the contrast in temperature. Cold air from the ICU versus the humidified ventilation causes condensation in the tubing so droplets pool by the tubing close to the mouth. There is a risk of the rainout falling into the patient’s lungs when they are being moved, and the nurses must suction the water out if that happens. Because of the patients being in a critical state, nurses avoid detaching the respiratory circuit entirely for suctioning. Suctioning risks damaging the patient’s already sensitive tissue, especially those in the CICU in which suctioning can impact cardiovascular activity. Overall, the project focuses on minimizing the risk of condensation buildup in the respiratory circuit which leads to harmful complications, while also saving time from the nurses using extra precautions to make sure the rainout doesn’t fall to the patient’s lungs.
Poster:	View Poster #140 (PDF)
Judges Scoring:	Submit Evaluation (judges only)

Project # 140Rainout Minimizing Device for Neonatal Respiratory Circuits