UK team develops Covid-19 field ventilator

The team of academic and industrial engineers, manufacturers and clinicians have created a low-cost Covid-19 field ventilator that uses a windscreen wiper motor, cam and lever system and a standard Ambu (Ambulance) Bag to ventilate the patient.  The unit, which went from an idea to testing in three weeks, is designed to run in remote parts of the world on battery, solar panels, wind turbines or mains power.

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“This is a rapidly escalating situation and there is an urgent need for ventilators in low and middle income countries [LMIC].  We know from our work with technical and clinical partners from various regions that there will be a much greater need over the coming weeks and months due to the rapid spread of COVID-19,” said team member Nachi Chockalingam, a Professor of Clinical Biomechanics at Staffordshire University.

“The Field Ventilator system is designed to be modular, with power management, alarms and monitoring available as an add-on module, should resources not be available locally.  Further, as the name implies, it is designed to function and withstand the much harsher environment found outside the average hospital, such as that found in a field hospital or rural community health service.”