VentElite Small Animal Ventilator

The VentElite Small Animal Ventilator was designed for animal research applications and is intended for use on subjects ranging in size from mice to guinea pigs. The goal in designing this ventilator was to maintain versatility and ease of use while fostering safe and physiologically accurate mechanical ventilation conditions.

Key Features

• Ideal for mice to guinea pigs (10 g to 1 kg)
• Real time graphical display of tracheal pressure
• Easy to use color touchscreen
• Interchangable between volume and pressure modes
• Internal pressure monitoring for detection of over and
  under pressure conditions
• Manual or programmable Sigh
• Inspiratory or Expiratory Hold
• Adjustable I:E

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How It Works

The VentElite utilizes advanced technologies to precisely control respiration profiles. It has two operating modes, Volume Control and Pressure Control, and allows users to easily toggle between these two modes via the Settings button on the large touch screen.

Volume Control Mode

The Volume Control mode delivers the desired tidal volume to the subject by precisely controlling the stroke of the piston. Since the actual stroke length, and therefore tidal volume, may be modified for a given stroke, sigh breaths are supported. Similarly, since stroke speed is precisely controllable during inspiration and expiration, variable inspiration-to-expiration (I:E) ratios are also supported. A pressure sensor continuously monitors the airway pressure to alert the user of over- and under-pressure conditions.

Pressure Control Mode

The Pressure Control mode of the VentElite allows the user to set the peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) value. Flow rates are automatically adjusted by changing the tidal volume while keeping the respiration rate constant. The stroke is adjusted in a manner in which the PIP is reached near the end of the piston stroke. This ensures that the subject, which has a higher airway resistance than the airway path within the ventilator, receives the majority of the expected tidal volume and that the unit does not prematurely terminate the piston stroke. Manual adjustment of the inspiratory flow rate is not required. The VentElite offers built-in Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) capability, allowing a PEEP setting via the touch screen user interface of up to 10 cmH₂O. Another feature of the VentElite is the ability to perform Inspiratory or Expiratory Hold. The user can enter the desired hold time and initiate inspiratory or expiratory hold by simply pressing the Insp. Hold/Exp. Hold button on the user interface.

NOTE: The VentElite requires the use of the 73-4872 Connection Kit when used with a high pressure gas source.