Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Refinement And Automation Using Algorithmic Control Of Breathforce, A Respiratory Training System For Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries., Anna Goestenkors

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can lead to impaired respiratory and cardiovascular function and a general decrease in lung compliance. This can complicate breathing as well as impair the ability to sigh, cough, and clear secretions, leading to increased risk of respiratory infections. Respiratory training has been shown to combat these effects. BreathForce is under active development to create a user-centric inspiratory-expiratory device that is an affordable option for at-home training. This study reports on the refinement of valve design and automation incorporated into BreathForce to enhance and enforce clinical practices and processes as part of the respiratory training protocol used …