Vapotherm Study Utilizes Computational Fluid Dynamics to Demonstrate High Velocity Therapy Leads to Better Clearance of CO2 from the Airway

Vapotherm, a global medical technology company known for its proprietary Vapotherm high velocity therapy® products for patients experiencing respiratory distress, has announced the online publication of a new study titled “Validation of Human Upper Computational Fluid Dynamics Model for Turbulent Mixing” in the Journal of Fluid Dynamics, with the full article set to appear in the December issue of J. Fluids Engineering.

The study builds upon earlier findings presented at the 8th Thermal Fluids Engineering Conference in March 2023 during the presentation titled “Cannula Oxygen Therapy.” Researchers harnessed the power of computational fluid dynamics to assess and elucidate the impact of cannula design on air flow and gas exchange in the upper airway. Notably, Vapotherm’s small bore design generates higher gas velocity, distinguishing it from other high flow cannula devices. The computational modeling performed in the study revealed that Vapotherm’s high-velocity cannulas with higher gas velocity offered greater resistance to the entry of exhaled CO2 into the upper airway. Additionally, HVNI cannulas initiated the process of clearing the airway by reducing the overall mass of CO2 earlier in the exhalation cycle when with no cannula models.

Dr. Jessica Whittle, Chief Medical Officer at Vapotherm, believes that this research has the potential to reshape clinicians’ perspectives on ventilation. She suggests that “research like this helps clinicians stop and rethink their understanding of ventilation and to consider using high velocity therapy as a first-line treatment for patients needing more than traditional oxygen.”

Vapotherm’s high-velocity therapy serves the $8 billion global respiratory distress device market. Respiratory distress is a common condition caused by COPD, Pneumonia, Heart Failure, Asthma, COVID-19 and other diseases. The company’s high-velocity therapy solution is a maskless support to patients needing respiratory support. About a third of patients needing traditional mask-based respiratory support are mask-intolerant, risking failed treatment, cost of care, and care escalation. Using the Vapotherm’s high velocity therapy allows patients to eat, drink, talk, and take oral medications while receiving respiratory and oxygenation support. The technique has shown non-inferiority to Nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), with greater simplicity and patient comfort.

Vapotherm recently also announced data demonstrating that pediatric patients who presented to the Emergency Department with acute, severe, asthma exacerbations required less escalation of therapy and met hospital discharge criteria faster when using Vapotherm’s high velocity therapy when compared to those receiving standard oxygen therapy.