Open-source ApolloBVM ventilator now available online

ApolloBVM could help COVID-19 patients who are less-critically ill while they await availability of a standard hospital ventilator.

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The project was first developed by students as a senior design project in 2019 and has been brought up to medical grade by Rice engineers and one student, with assistance from doctors at the Texas Medical Center. The device costs under $300 in parts and can squeeze a common bag valve mask for hours on end.

Visitors to the ApolloBVM website will be asked to register before they can download the do-it-yourself plans so they can be kept up to date as the project progresses.

"This is going to make a difference in hospitals that run out of ventilators," said Dr. Rohith Malya, adviser to the Rice engineering team in Texas. "Those that have relationships with a production facility that can quickly produce them should seek FDA emergency use authorisation. We're working locally to get that done.