Ultra-low-cost, high quality bubble CPAP for low resource settings

Abstract

Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (bCPAP) is a life-saving intervention for children and newborns with respiratory distress. A typical bCPAP circuit consists of a source of air with a blender that adjusts its oxygen concentration, a nasal interface that delivers the gas to the patient, and a water reservoir that generates pressure. The nasal interface and water reservoir can be sourced at low cost, but all existing blenders are high cost and require either compressed medical air (typically unavailable in low resource settings) or electricity, which can be unreliable in these settings. Oxygen is often the only pressurized gas available. Therefore, some improvised devices will give the patient pure oxygen, which is harmful to neonates' eyes, lungs, and brain. We aimed to create an ultra-low-cost, high quality bCPAP system that overcomes these barriers to scale.