Diamedica Baby CPAP

This device generates and delivers a safe, easily controllable mixture of humidified oxygen and air for CPAP treatment. It is driven by an oxygen concentrator that has been modified to produce an increased output with a variable concentration of oxygen. The concentrator has also been modified so that warm waste air from the concentrator’s compressor is directed towards the humidifier bottle. The device delivers flows of up to 8L/min of both oxygen and air. An oxygen/air mixing chart is provided with the product which eliminates the need for an oxygen analyzer. The oxygen/air mixture passes over a water humidifier and is delivered to the patient via lightweight respiratory tubing to silicon nasal prongs or a face mask. Pressure in the system is controlled by a bubble bottle that depends on the depth of tubing under water which is set by a simple dial on the bottle top.

The Baby CPAP requires time to calibrate before use. A yellow light will turn on after turning on the concentrator. This light will not turn off until the concentration of the gas supply reaches or exceeds 85%, indicating that the concentrator is working properly and ready for use.

The CPAP circuit (inspiratory and expiratory limb, bottle and lid and connections) should be cleaned after every patient or weekly if the same child is using the device for over a week. The circuit should be cleaned with soap before it is disinfected with sodium hypochlorite 0.05% or household bleach that is diluted to 0.05% hypochlorite. The exterior of the oxygen concentrator should be cleaned with a mild disinfecting cleaning agent or a diluted solution of bleach (usually 5.25% sodium hypochlorite). Instructions on how to properly clean the device are provided in the user manual. The Baby CPAP requires approximately 30 minutes of routine cleaning and maintenance each week.

Dimensions: 39 x 44 x 84 cm;
Weight: 26 kg

Diamedica offers free technical support via email, Skype, or telephone for the lifetime of the product. Diamedica also provides training for medical and technical personnel. Joh Achelis & Söhne GmbH, the East African distributor of the product, has engineers and technicians that provide full in-country technical support.^{Interview with distributor}

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A clinical study conducted in Lilongwe, Malawi with 116 children with severe pneumonia reported a survival rate of 64% when the Baby CPAP was used for treatment.

When setting up the Baby CPAP, make sure that the device is positioned at least 30 cm away from walls and curtains so that the inlet opening is not obstructed. Children that are being treated with CPAP and are clinically stable (have no emergency signs and SpO2 >90%) should be disconnected from CPAP for 10–15 minutes each day in order for nursing staff to determine whether supplemental oxygen and CPAP is still required. The child should be immediately restarted on oxygen if severe hypoxaemia (SpO2 <80%), apnoea or severe respiratory distress occurs while the child is disconnected. Children with acute respiratory disease should not be discharged
until their SpO2 has been stable at 90% or more while breathing room air for at least 24 hours,
until danger signs have resolved, and until appropriate home treatment can be organized.^{Interview with distributor}