Scientists have developed a cheaper form of mechanical ventilator to treat patients with respiratory diseases including COVID-19.
The new design is simpler to assemble so the creators, led by Dr Joseph van Batenburg-Sherwood of Imperial College London, UK, believe it will help address the current global shortage of ventilators.
It was invented as an emergency measure for severely ill patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units, but can also be used for pneumonia, influenza and tuberculosis, working with home-use oxygen concentrators as well as pressurised gas supplies.
The design of the ‘RELAVENT’ ventilator – previously JAMVENT – was outlined on Monday in Frontiers in Medical Technology. Its main design difference from standard ventilators is in the valve system.
The creators explain: "The majority of current ventilator designs use proportional valves and flow sensors, which remain in short supply over a year into the pandemic. In the proposed design, the core components are on-off valves.
"Unlike proportional valves, on-off valves are widely available, but accurate control of ventilation using on-off valves is not straightforward. Our proposed solution combines four on-off valves, a two-litre reservoir, an oxygen sensor and two pressure sensors."
This technique demonstrated high accuracy and precision over 15 days when tested with a flow analyser and test lungs.
"The precision and accuracy of ventilation parameters were within the ranges specified in international guidelines in all tests," the designers report. "This new design provides the performance necessary for the majority of patients that require ventilation."
It "costs significantly less to manufacture and maintain than current market designs and has the potential to increase global ventilator availability," they write, adding that its components "minimise interference with the existing ventilator supply chains".
Madekurozwa, M. et al. A Novel Ventilator Design for COVID-19 and Resource-Limited Settings. Frontiers in Medical Technology 4 October 2021 doi: 10.3389/fmedt.2021.707826
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