Section G
AirWave System Operator’s Manual
37
The SonarMed AirWave Monitoring System acquires acoustic measurements during quiet periods
between patient breaths, after which the indicators are updated. Conditions that decrease the quiet
periods during ventilation may make it difficult for the system to acquire clean measurements, resulting in
delays between indicator updates. Such conditions may include:
•
Ventilation at a high rate
•
Presence of significant noise from secretions in the ETT or airways (e.g. airway crackle)
•
Presence of ventilator noise between breaths
•
Patient coughing
•
Other devices (e.g. intra-aortic balloon pump, continuous nebulizer)
If the system is having difficulty acquiring measurements, an “Excessive Noise” message may appear in
conjunction with infrequent indicator updates. To assist in determining the source of the noise, listen
directly to the microphone signals using the
Monitor AirWave Microphones
option in the
Main Menu
(see
Patient monitoring is continuous until the user chooses to stop either by entering the
Main Menu Screen
or turning off the Monitor.
If the Sensor cable becomes disconnected from the Sensor or Monitor, the Monitor sounds an alarm and
displays the following screen (see Figure G-42).
Figure G-41
Baseline Movement Indicator
Distance that ETT tip has moved
from baseline. Box color
indicates alarm status:
Green
when ETT tip position is
within alarm limits.
Red
when ETT tip position
exceeds alarm limits.
Blue
when system is analyzing
data.
Carina distance is tracked if
entered by the user
Baseline
Movement
Direction
Up/down arrow
lights indicating
ETT movement
high/low in
trachea.
Obstruction Indicator
The percentage of ETT
obstructions (up to 2) and
the approximate locations in
the ETT that corresponds to
the ETT ruler to the right.
Color indicates alarm status:
Yellow
when value is at
least 20%.
Red
when value exceeds
alarm limit.
Measurement Status
Toggles on or off when the
system completes taking a
measurement and refreshes
all indicators.
Waveform
Screen
Button
Baseline Set/Reset
Press to set/reset
baseline. Button is not
available if system
status is
Analyzing
.
Passageway Size
Baseline
Arrows and value indicate
the passageway size
when baseline was set.
Blue is baseline, green is
current reading.
ETT Ruler
Distance markings
(cm) from ETT distal
tip to proximal end
that correspond to
the same markings
on the patient’s ETT.
Refresh Time
Time since last
measurement.
Passageway Size Indicator
Cylinder and value indicate
size of passageway around the
ETT tip. Color indicates alarm
status:
Green
when value is within
alarm limits.
Red
when value exceeds
alarm limits.
