# Final Development and Testing of Patient Breath Simulator/Capnometer Test Device

> **NIH NIH R44** · WITTING INNOVATION, LLC · 2020 · $499,400

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Healthcare providers increasingly employ respiratory gas monitors, such as capnometers and
anesthesia monitors, to ensure respiratory health during critical care procedures like sedation,
mechanical ventilation and CPR. A malfunctioning gas monitor, which can be difficult to detect
using traditional static test methods, can lead to serious injury or death.
A novel test device (known as the SmartTank) has been developed that can simulate patient
CO2 levels under various conditions including mechanical ventilation. The device properly
simulates patient breathing under various pressure conditions and can properly identify leaks
within capnometers. Test sequences for specific devices can be picked from the internal
database. The user can perform the test and the SmartTank collects the required information
and generates a report the user can then retrieve.
While the system functions as intended, additional technical assistance and late stage
development are required to reach commercialization. Remaining development tasks include
redesigning the flow meter to solve a technical issue and modify a core part of the firmware to
allow for user customizable test routines. Once these tasks are complete, technical assistance
is needed to complete electrical safety and EMC testing before onsite Beta testing can be
conducted at ten different hospitals.
Completion of the proposed specific aims will result in the final design of a portable, standalone
SmartTank device that meets user expectations and is ready for the market. This device will
provide new advanced tests for capnometers capable of detecting all critical fault conditions
leading to increased patient safety and reduced hospital and provider risk. Additionally, clinical
engineers will save time and money as total time to setup, conduct and document a test is
reduced by customizable automation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10008156
- **Project number:** 2R44HL124699-03
- **Recipient organization:** WITTING INNOVATION, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Darryl Zitting
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $499,400
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2014-08-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10008156

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10008156, Final Development and Testing of Patient Breath Simulator/Capnometer Test Device (2R44HL124699-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10008156. Licensed CC0.

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