@article {Turnbull:2016:1027-3719:696,
title = "Solar-powered oxygen delivery: proof of concept",
journal = "The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease",
parent_itemid = "infobike://iuatld/ijtld",
publishercode ="iuatld",
year = "2016",
volume = "20",
number = "5",
publication date ="2016-05-01T00:00:00",
pages = "696-703",
itemtype = "ARTICLE",
issn = "1027-3719",
eissn = "1815-7920",
url = "https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/ijtld/2016/00000020/00000005/art00023",
doi = "doi:10.5588/ijtld.15.0796",
keyword = "pneumonia, oxygen, solar energy, hypoxaemia, child",
author = "Turnbull, H. and Conroy, A. and Opoka, R. O. and Namasopo, S. and Kain, K. C. and Hawkes, M.",
abstract = "SETTING: A resource-limited paediatric hospital in Uganda.OBJECTIVE: Pneumonia is a leading cause of child mortality worldwide. Access to life-saving oxygen therapy is limited in many areas. We designed and implemented a solar-powered oxygen delivery system for the treatment of
paediatric pneumonia.DESIGN: Proof-of-concept pilot study. A solar-powered oxygen delivery system was designed and piloted in a cohort of children with hypoxaemic illness.RESULTS: The system consisted of 25 \texttimes 80 W photovoltaic solar panels (daily output 7.5 kWh [range 3.89.7kWh]),
8 \texttimes 220 Ah batteries and a 300 W oxygen concentrator (output up to 5 l/min oxygen at 88% [\textpm2%] purity). A series of 28 patients with hypoxaemia were treated with solar-powered oxygen. Immediate improvement in peripheral blood oxygen saturation was documented (median change +12%
[range 515%], P P < 0.01 for all comparisons). The case fatality rate was 6/28 (21%). The median recovery times to sit, eat, wean oxygen and hospital
discharge were respectively 7.5 h, 9.8 h, 44 h and 4 days.CONCLUSION: Solar energy can be used to concentrate oxygen from ambient air and oxygenate children with respiratory distress and hypoxaemia in a resource-limited setting.",
}