A Low-Resource Oxygen Blender Prototype for Use in Modified Bubble CPAP Circuits: Results from Design Feasibility Workshops

Abstract

Bubble CPAP is used in low-resource settings to support children with pneumonia. Low-cost modifications of bubble CPAP using 100% oxygen introduces the risk of hyperoxia. Our team developed a low-cost, readily constructible oxygen blender to lower the oxygen concentration. The next step in development was to test its construction among new users and ascertain three outcomes: construction time, outflow oxygen concentration, and an assessment of the user experience. Workshops were conducted in two countries. Instructions were delivered using a live demonstration, a video, and written instructions in the respective native language. Twelve volunteers participated. Average construction times were 24 minutes for the first attempt and 15 minutes for the second. The oxygen concentrations were 53–63% and 41–51% for the 5 and 10 mm entrainment ports, respectively. This novel, low-cost oxygen blender for bubble CPAP can be constructed among new users with reliable performance across devices.