Documentation

Early considerations for medical professionals helping us test, and build a parts and use kit

For Creating the emergency ventilator

Note: Can have a local machine shop CNC the device, do a high volume 3D injected molding, or can also do high-end 3d print if needed


For Face Mask or Intubation Tubes

Note: Need tight seal around face for air exchange to work, or intubation tubing





For clean compressed air

Note: Need a dry air compressor, with a pressure regulator (or you need to add one), and ideally a filter




For Adjusting the Right Pressure

Notes: Use the regulator on the air compressor, or an independent pressure gauge if there is not one on the air compressor, plus use the 3 knobs on the emergency ventilator to adjust the proper air pressure to match desired pressure profiles that would be needed for eventual use in patients.


For Sanitizing Air on Exhaust Tubing

Notes so far: A large HEPA filter that doesn't impede pressure, UV light surrounding the tubing, or a high heat source could sterilize the air on exhale




For Oxygen and Humidification

Notes: Supplemental medical oxygen and humidification can be added in a variety of ways to the inlet air.




Downloads

We will be sharing everything we have so that we can more effectively collaborate with those helping out.

For now, we've posted the prior research and testing we based our product inspiration from. We'll be adding the mechanical designs shortly under a non commercial creative commons license for anyone to print and help us do testing and validation

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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Frequently Asked Questions
1How does the device work?
Our device is an assisted breathing device. It uses pressure to switch modes, so it really responds well to both assisted and automatic breathing. It can do more or less based on someone's own capabilities. If someone tries to inhale, then it will help them inhale. If they try to exhale, then it will try to help them. The pressure builds on both sides of the bistable fluidic amplifier to determine when to switch....so when the lungs fill up, the device’s internal flow path switches to the other side, triggering the exhalation phase and venting gases through the exhaust port. When exhalation is complete, the device flow path switches to the other side and triggers the inhalation phase. Positive pressure is maintained throughout all phases of flow. The 3 set-screws on the device enable adjustments in the inhale pressure, the exhale pressure, and the duration of the exhale volume.
2Are there any electronics in the device?
No. It's mechanical in nature. There are no moving parts. In layman's terms, it uses air pressure to operate. The more complex answer is that it uses fluid dynamics to operate.
3How much does it cost?
The critical piece can probably be made for less than $10 for that does not include other parts that can either sourced at a hospital or be part of a complete kit. A tight face mask, vinyl tubing, an air compressor, a sanitation filter on the exhaust air are all required. Oxygen can also be added and a nebulizer may also be added, similar to how they would be added to a normal ventilator. Hospitals may have air and all of the aforementioned however. The core device can be made at a machine shop, 3D printed, or built in volume by injection molding.
4What stage are you in?
Right now, we've developed a prototype that seems to work well. We need help getting it tested with medical testing equipment that is designed to test ventilators or lung function. We want to dial in the recommended pressure settings.
5Are you trying to sell this to make money?
No. We're not trying to make money. We're just trying to help create a mechanical ventilator that can be mass produced, with the goal of creating a viable solution for saving lives. If the shortage continues, we believe the choice of a having no ventilator and having a simple emergency field ventilator could make a difference.
6Why are you creating this if others already are working on this?
We recognize that there are many companies trying to help out, and are trying to gather everyone working on this in the "Global Efforts" page under the "Resources" page. Even if all the companies listed do come up with viable concepts, ventilators still may not come fast enough to save lives. We're hoping the mechanical ventilator we designed can be a low cost easy-to-make option that could fill a need in a resource constrained country, or fill a gap in a country lacking time.
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