Minivent: Design of a Portable Neonatal Manual Ventilator with Real-Time Volume and Pressure Monitoring for Safer Resuscitation

Manual neonatal resuscitation remains essential in emergencies and low-resource environments; however, conventional bag-valve-mask systems often lack control and monitoring of pressure and volume, increasing the risk of barotrauma or volutrauma in newborns. This study introduces Minivent, a manual neonatal volumetric ventilator inspired by patent WO 2017/200399 A1, designed to improve safety and consistency in manual ventilation. The device integrates a multivalve pneumatic system with an electronic monitoring module, enabling real-time measurement of tidal volume and inspiratory pressure. Its pneumatic mechanism ensures pressure-limited and volume-controlled air or oxygen delivery, automatically releasing excess gas through an adjustable relief valve. Meanwhile, the electronic module—equipped with medical-grade pressure sensors and a neonatal pneumotachograph—provides graphical feedback on an LCD display, allowing clinicians to administer controlled ventilation. Preliminary evaluations were conducted using neonatal lung simulators and following the ISO 10651-4:2002 standard for manual resuscitators. Results demonstrated the system’s ability to maintain stable pressure and volume within safe neonatal limits, achieving a tidal volume variance of only 4.85\%. The device components were fabricated using sterilization-resistant industrial materials such as polypropylene (PP), polyoxymethylene (POM), and silicone, ensuring clinical durability. Additionally, injection and vulcanization molds were developed to produce 23 mechanical parts with high precision and reproducibility. Overall, Minivent addresses critical limitations of traditional manual resuscitators by offering a portable, pressure-limited, and volume-controlled solution suitable for use in intensive care units, emergency transport, and remote healthcare settings, contributing to safer neonatal care worldwide.