A New Venturi Device for Administering Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

Postoperative and post-traumatic atelectasis often results in pneumonia and arterial hypoxemia. In an effort to avoid these pulmonary complications, we developed a lightweight, portable, oxygen-powered device to deliver continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The device can deliver both 30 per cent inspired oxygen and clinically applicable levels of CPAP for a diverse group of hospital patients. The simplicity and functional characteristics of the device allow CPAP to be administered more readily and more effectively than previous devices could allow.