A New Critical Care Ventilator Allows Speech

A ventilator-based speaking option that does not require an external valve offers critical care patients a safer and more efficient way to communicate with caregivers and loved ones.

The Esprit speaking mode option is offered as an upgrade for all existing Esprit ventilators, or can be factory installed on a new ventilator. When a patient wishes to speak, the clinician deflates the tracheostomy cuff and initiates the speaking mode. During the inspiratory phase, the Esprit ventilator provides normal gas delivery; during the expiratory phase, the closed expiratory valve ensures exhaled gas passes around the deflated tracheostomy cuff and through the patient's vocal cords. The Esprit ventilator responds to occlusions of the airway by sounding an alarm and automatically opening the ventilator's exhalation port, returning the patient to normal ventilation. The optional speaking mode requires no external valves or additional parts, reducing hospital costs. The Esprit line of critical care ventilators is a product of Respironics (Murrysville, PA, USA).

"We are excited to bring this innovative new feature to the ventilator market,” said Ulf Solback, vice president of marketing for critical care at Respironics. "For ventilator patients, the return of speech function can be the first step toward liberation because it means increased independence and self-determination.”

The traditional method for enabling ventilator patient speech relies on a one-way valve inserted in the patient's breathing circuit. The process starts when the ventilator is placed on standby, the breathing circuit is disconnected, and the patient's tracheostomy is occluded with a gloved finger to test for airway patency. The caregiver then deflates the tracheostomy cuff, adds the speaking valve to the circuit, reconnects the circuit to the patient's tracheostomy tube, and adjusts the ventilator settings, a time consuming process.


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