Challenge: Ventilation of premature infants.
For several decades, the primary goal of neonatal ventilation was to ensure sufficient ventilation of the lungs. Until the 1970s, the focus was on the mere survival of premature infants — sometimes with considerable and unpredictable negative consequences for their health.
The reason for this is that premature infants had to be artificially relaxed so they would be able to withstand the unconventional ventilation modes of the ventilators based on the limited technology of the time. The measurement of tidal volume was not used when monitoring mechanically ventilated infants because taking measurement in close proximity to the patient was only possible to a very limited extent.
World premier:
The NVM-1.
The key behind today’s high chances of premature infant survival (more than 95%) is precise ventilation of the still immature lungs. This era was heralded with the arrival of MIM’s patented neonatal flow sensor in 1980. In perfect interaction with the world’s first intelligent Neonatal Volume Monitor (NVM-1), which was also developed by MIM, the sensor is based on the hot-wire anemometer method and enables highly precise measurement of the tidal volume in young patients.
This paved the way for synchronization of the ventilator with the patient’s own breathing. In other words, premature infants were able for the first time to actively control the ventilator themselves using their natural breathing movements. This sensitive triggering and the automatic compensation of the often unavoidable leakages in the ventilation of premature infants allowed gentle and above all protective ventilation, something previously unachievable. The result was a significant increase in the survival chances of premature infants as well as sustained improvement in patient therapy. The weaning process, which was associated with high health risks for premature infants, also became a thing of the past.
MIM revolutionizes premature infant ventilation.
Rarely has a development led to such changes in the clinical environment. What was already standard in adult ventilation could now also be successfully used in the ventilation of premature infants:
Almost all ventilation modes available with modern ventilators — from controlled ventilation to assisted ventilation such as IMV, SIMV, IPPV, SPIIV and so on — are based on MIM’s principle of flow measurement.
We’re still proud of this.
Next level:
Graphic display.
Another first in ventilation technology was the first graphic display on the BAER 1000 ventilator developed by MIM. For the first time, the lung mechanics could be displayed in more detail and in real time.
The graphic visualization of the flow, pressure, and volume curves in particular provided on-going support for the treating physicians and nurses during their daily work.
Research as investment
in the future.
The most recent market success in monitoring was interpreted by MIM more as an obligation than as a confirmation. We are focusing more than ever on practical research and development. As in the past, the patient and the treating physician are always at the heart of all we do.
In close cooperation with leading university hospitals and professors, MIM continually tests and improves its products, which in turn are regularly the subject of specialist studies and publications — such as the modification of the flow sensor to also determine the oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations in the “parallel flow method” (University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Medical Director Prof. H. Mentzel, 1986).
The Florian. The mother of all NICU monitors.
In the early 1990s, MIM introduced the Florian respiration monitor to the world. It is still considered the mother of all modern NICU monitors today. The “Neonatal Respiration Monitor” was designed as an additional component for monitoring management of the conventional ventilator generation...
... and with its graphic display it could measure the inspiratory O2 concentrations and the breathing gas CO2 levels in premature infants in addition to volume, flow, and pressure for the first time ever. Particular progress was made with the quality of the information display — from the simple display of measured values to on-screen presentation.
From monitoring
to ventilator.
Patient monitoring with all its functions became an integral component of what were modern ventilators at the time. Parallel to this development, MIM used its wealth of experience in patient monitoring and designed Fabian and Leonie, the first large-scale produced OEM ventilators for the global use.
The Fabian operates with a leakage-compensating volume trigger system; its advanced flow control combined with the unique expiration valve considerably reduces the respiratory work for premature infants and children. And, of course, it is equipped with the Florian respiration monitor for visual monitoring of ventilation and lung function.
MIM has subsequently developed and produced high-end respirators — from initial treatment to intensive long-term ventilation — concentrating particularly on performance-defining key components of ventilators that are jam-packed with expertise.
We stay innovative.
We are never satisfied: Together with our hardware and software experts, we regularly put our product solutions back on the testing bench. Each of our products is the result of on-going development efforts and a willingness to innovate.
The latest result is the world’s first pediatric sensor, which we have specifically developed to meet the special requirements of pediatric HFO ventilation.
