Design and Operation of High Flow Oxygen Therapy: A novel approach to producing high concentration humidified oxygen for covid-19 patients

Abstract

High-flow oxygen therapy provides adequate oxygen to those patients who suffer from pulmonary disorders due to the COVID-19 virus. The purpose of this research is to develop an oxygen therapy device that produces high-flow oxygen and provides a humidified supply of oxygen to patients suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19. The development of a High-Flow Oxygen Therapy (HFOT) device using cannulation is a much-needed solution to fill the gap in the availability of ventilators in resource-limited settings like Pakistan. The HFOT has a system that offers high-flow oxygen with the help of a blender that is capable of producing a balanced mix of air and oxygen while keeping the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) at the desired level. A Proportional, Integral, and Derivative (PID) valve is used to control the flow of the mixed gas as per the requirement. The mixed air is then passed through a humidifier that warms, humidifies, and purifies respiratory gas. The flow rate of the device is designed to produce up to 60 Liters Per Minute (LPM) with ± 0.5 variations with proper humidity. The designed prototype is tested for the gas flow rate, oxygen concentration, and desired pressure using professional calibrators and artificial lungs. The test results show significant achievements in delivering humid gases with high flow rates. ness together with appropriate humidification, gas warming, and concentration of oxygen.