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Neonatal and Pediatric EIT Study

There are very few objective measurements that can enable clinicians to evaluate lung expansion at the bedside. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a novel radiation-free noninvasive imaging tool that analyzes real-time changes in lung volumes with small electrodes to guide bedside management of critically ill mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). EIT technology is being designed for neonatal and pediatric patients by Sentec Medical. Sentec has funded the DiBlasi Lab to conduct preclinical research to validate EIT measurements with lung volumes measured by single photon emission tomography (SPECT). These experiments are necessary for FDA approval and widespread availability of this novel technology for future clinical use.

A typical EIT image of healthy lungs.

A typical EIT image of healthy lungs.

 

The EIT image shows the silent spaces (pink) where diseased lung units have become collapsed in a critically ill subject.

The EIT image shows the silent spaces (pink) where diseased lung units have become collapsed in a critically ill subject. Sequential increases in the expiratory pressure from 1-12 resulted in progressively fewer silent spaces as the lung units were recruited resulting in improved blood oxygen levels.

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