We tested the CNO driver in a mechanical lung model. It is different to other drivers in some aspects that are not that easy to see if you are not used to evaluating drivers.
The CNO driver is intended for use with their dedicated CPAP generator. This CPAP generator has a high resistance to breathing and a rather low driving pressure.
This has several consequences: 1) It is difficult to use with other CPAP generators (for example Infant Flow or Infant Flow LP) that need higher driving pressures. 2) The synchronised pressure support is pressure triggered. This is based on the high resistance of the generator. This will probably not work if the infant is failing (low tidal volumes or high respiratory rates). 3) The high resistance to breathing is very old fashion and goes with a high work of breathing. The performance in this aspect is worse than standard bubble CPAP. The generator is not functionally equivalent to the Benveniste valve.
The oscillation mode is also based on the generator with high resistance. Even if it adds oscillations, a breathing infant still needs to overcome the resistance of the generator.
These observations were in a mechanical lung model and should be interpreted with caution. We have only published some of the results.
We are not aware of any head-to-head comparisons with conventional low resistance CPAP (such as bubble CPAP or Infant Flow).