We present a viable prototype of a simple mechanical ventilator intended as a last resort to ventilate COVID-19 patients. The prototype implements the pressure-controlled continuous mandatory ventilation mode (PC-CMV) with settable breathing rates, inspiration/expiration time ratios and FiO2 modulation. Although safe, the design aims to minimize the use of technical components and those used are common in industry, so its construction may be possible in times of logistical shortage or disruption or in areas with reduced access to technical materials and at a moderate cost, affordable to lower income countries. Most of the device can be manufactured by modest technical means and construction plans are provided.
@article{arxiv.2004.00310,
title = {Prototype of an affordable pressure-controlled emergency mechanical ventilator for COVID-19},
author = {Américo Pereira and Luís Lopes and Paulo Fonte and Pedro Póvoa and Telmo G. Santos and Alberto Martinho and Ângela Neves and António Bugalho and António Gabriel-Santos and Gonçalo Gaspar Bentes Pimenta and João Goês and João Martins and João Pedro Oliveira and José Paulo Santos and Luís C. Gil and Miguel Onofre Domingues and Orlando Cunha and Pedro Pinheiro de Sousa and Tiago A. Rodrigues and Valdemar R. Duarte and Antero Abrunhosa and António Grilo and João Agostinho do Nascimento and Mário Pimenta},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2004.00310},
year = {2020}
}
Comments
This version differs from version 2 in that it includes toxicological and bio-safety tests and updated electronics