Validation of PneumoWave DCM Respiratory Monitor in an In-vitro Paediatric Sleep Apnoea Model

Diagnosis of central sleep apnoea in children is complex and necessitates the use of multiple sensors. The PneumoWave DC Mobile (DCM), a Class 1 monitoring device registered with UKCA, continuously records chest movement data for analysis. The study validated the effectiveness of the PneumoWave DCM in detecting variable respiratory rates and simulated periods of apnoea in a manikin model. The PneumoWave DCM was placed approximately four fingers down from the centre on the upper right side of a SimJunior manikin’s chest (Laerdal Medical, UK). The manikin’s lungs were inflated using an LTV 1150 ventilator (Vyaire Medical, UK), generating respiratory rates between 6 and 80 breaths per minute (BPM) at a tidal volume of 50 ml. Apnoea periods lasting from 5 to 20 seconds were simulated by disconnecting ET and ventilator tubes. Data was collected for 10 minutes at each setting for analysis in MATLAB (version R2023a, MathWorks Inc., USA). The respiratory waveforms collected exhibited a strong linear correlation with the ventilator settings (r² = 0.99), with a relative standard deviation ranging from 0.27% to 1.63%. The PneumoWave device effectively detected simulated chest movement during both breathing and apnoea events. In summary, the PneumoWave DCM sensor represents a promising, less cumbersome and cost-effective alternative for screening children for sleep apnoea.