Phrenic Nerve Magnetic Stimulation in the ICU

The project is to design a housing mechanism for a electromagnetic coil. The coil is to stimulate the phrenic nerve which in turn will exercise the diaphragm in patients undergoing artificial ventilation in ICU.

Exercising the diaphragm is important for the recovery of patients undergoing ventilation. The diaphragm's role is to constantly inflate and deflate the lungs. Once its role is being taken up by the ventilator it quickly atrophies. When the patient no longer needs ventilation the diaphragm is not in a state to re enact its natural role causing the patient to spend longer under artificial ventilation and recover.

The project is to take an existing coil and place it in a housing that can be positioned precisely on the neck of a patient by ICU staff.

The project is to;

\* design the housing mechanism for a coil

\* develop a cooling mechanism for the coil

Initial trials have demonstrated that

**The benefit**

\* Increasing the positive outcomes from ICU

\* Increasing the capacity of ICU

\* Reducing the demand in ICU by early intervention of stimulating the diaphragm

\* Enable UK self-sufficiency in the production of life saving equipment

\* Reduced patient time on a ventilator

\* Reduces patient time in ICU

\* Improved patient outcomes

\* Reduce patients stay in hospital

\* Free up ventilators quicker for incoming patients

\* Reduce the number of required ICU beds

\* Fast patient recovery /Reduce the need for aftercare