INSPIRE: Innovative Solid-State Pressure Monitoring for Improved Respiratory Care in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

INSPIRE develops a new sensor system that continuously monitors breathing in critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation. By making respiratory monitoring easier, more accurate, and suitable for both adults and children, the project aims to improve intensive care treatment and patient recovery. The INSPIRE project is a new collaboration between medical technology company PulmoTech and Radboudumc. By combining clinical expertise with advanced sensor technology, INSPIRE will create a new generation of respiratory monitoring that is easier to use, more accurate, and suitable for both adults and children.

Acute respiratory failure is one of the most common reasons for ICU admission worldwide and is associated with high mortality and long recovery times. In the Netherlands, approximately 40,000 patients receive invasive mechanical ventilation each year, but current monitoring methods are often difficult to use and can provide unreliable measurements. Existing pressure catheters require balloon inflation, calibration, and precise positioning, limiting their widespread use in daily clinical practice. Better respiratory monitoring could help doctors adjust ventilator settings more precisely, potentially reducing ventilation time, complications, and long-term disability.

INSPIRE addresses this challenge by developing a miniaturized “smart” oesophageal pressure catheter using advanced micro-sensor technology. The project will identify the optimal sensor position, create algorithms that automatically remove noise and artefacts from measurements, and integrate these innovations into a complete monitoring system. Clinical validation studies at the ICU of Radboudumc will ensure that the technology is safe, reliable, and clinically relevant.

The project will deliver a fully integrated respiratory monitoring system, validated clinical data, scientific publications, and new technological knowledge. The innovations developed within INSPIRE are expected to support future CE-marked medical products, strengthen the Dutch medtech ecosystem, and improve care and recovery for critically ill patients worldwide.