The respiratory therapy team at Chung Shan Medical University Hospital (CSMUH) has developed an "Improved Nebulized Non-Rebreathing Mask" (INNRM) that effectively addresses the issues faced by patients requiring high-concentration oxygen during inhaled medication therapy, thereby enhancing treatment quality.

Challenges in Treating Patients Needing High-Concentration Oxygen

Patients needing high-concentration oxygen often have respiratory or pulmonary diseases and require inhaled medication during acute episodes to prevent further deterioration. However, the current "Non-Rebreathing Mask" (NRM) available on the market fails to deliver inhaled medications effectively, resulting in limited drug dosage for the patients and potentially impacting treatment outcomes.

Innovative Solutions Beyond Traditional Oxygen Masks

The INNRM improves upon the traditional non-rebreathing oxygen mask with the following enhancements:

-Piston-Sealed Cap: Fluid dynamics design with a specially shaped piston reduces turbulent flow in the tubing, allowing direct insertion of small nebulizer cups without the risk of losing the cap.

-Folding Gas Reservoir: The specially designed Y-shaped connector stabilizes the small nebulizer cup vertically, reducing residual medication in the cup and increasing overall drug output.

-MDI Drug Nozzle: Expands the types of inhaled medications available, allowing timely administration of suitable drugs for patients with lung diseases.

Impressive Clinical Trial Data

Both in vitro and in vivo experiments have confirmed that the INNRM significantly improves oxygen concentration and drug output efficiency while reducing drug residue:

-In vitro experiments: The INNRM achieved an oxygen concentration of 56.7%, higher than the NRM's 43.8% and the clinical setup's 40.4%.

-In vivo experiments: The INNRM achieved an internal mask oxygen concentration of 84.0%, higher than the NRM's 80.4% and the clinical setup's 46.2%.

-Drug output efficiency: The INNRM achieved a drug output rate of 83.6%, higher than the clinical setup's 77.8%.

Addressing the Growing Demand for Respiratory Therapy in Aging Populations

Respiratory therapist Yi-Hsien Chung stated that the incidence of respiratory diseases is rising due to aging populations and changing lifestyles, leading to a higher proportion of respiratory disease patients in hospitals. Consequently, the potential for the hospital respiratory therapy market is enormous, particularly in emerging markets like China and India, where the need is even more urgent. The team believes that their product has extensive market application prospects, significant future development potential, and could capture a substantial share of the global medical market. The research team will continue to develop improvements and promote clinical applications, aiming to provide higher-quality treatment for patients requiring high-concentration oxygen therapy.

Resource (mandarin): 藥物直達不殘留！中山醫改良傳統面罩 肺部治療維持高濃度供氧與用藥效率！