Closed-loop flow-control of the expiration for assisted spontaneous breathing - FLEX-ASB

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Stefan Schumann
• Subject Area: Anaesthesiology
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 407023235

Mechanical ventilation is the life-saving key-therapy whenever a patient is not able to generate the required work of breathing. Although it is a major life-saving therapy, mechanical ventilation is per se associated with potential harm of the lungs due to the non-physiological pressure relationships in the respiratory system. The main task for research regarding mechanical ventilation is therefore the development of options for lung-protective mechanical ventilation.A major development from our group is the flow-controlled expiration (FLEX) for the controlled mechanical ventilation. In animal experiments could demonstrate that the FLEX-induced decelerated and linearized expiratory flow is lung protective. Studies in healthy test persons showed that FLEX increases the discomfort of breathing less than positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and in patients during controlled intraoperative mechanical ventilation FLEX caused a more homogeneous intrapulmonal ventilation distribution than conventional mechanical ventilation.Most mechanically ventilated patients suffering from lung disease (e.g. during intensive care therapy) receive mechanical ventilation in a form of assisted spontaneous breathing. The aim of this project is therefore to develop a FLEX-ASB system that can be applied during assisted spontaneous breathing and to demonstrate its potentially lung protective effects in healthy lungs and in lungs with restrictive and obstructive diseases during assisted spontaneous breathing.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants