Prototype of an affordable pressure-controlled emergency mechanical ventilator for COVID-19

Américo Pereira; Luís Lopes; Paulo Fonte; Pedro Póvoa; Telmo G. Santos; Alberto Martinho; Ângela Neves; António Bugalho; António Gabriel-Santos; Gonçalo Gaspar Bentes Pimenta; João Goês; João Martins; João Pedro Oliveira; José Paulo Santos; Luís C. Gil; Miguel Onofre Domingues; Orlando Cunha; Pedro Pinheiro de Sousa; Tiago A. Rodrigues; Valdemar R. Duarte; Antero Abrunhosa; António Grilo; João Agostinho do Nascimento; Mário Pimenta

arXiv · 2004.00310

Prototype of an affordable pressure-controlled emergency mechanical ventilator for COVID-19

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Abstract

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.

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Américo Pereira, Luís Lopes, Paulo Fonte, Pedro Póvoa, Telmo G. Santos, Alberto Martinho, Ângela Neves, António Bugalho, António Gabriel-Santos, Gonçalo Gaspar Bentes Pimenta, João Goês, João Martins, João Pedro Oliveira, José Paulo Santos, Luís C. Gil, Miguel Onofre Domingues, Orlando Cunha, Pedro Pinheiro de Sousa, Tiago A. Rodrigues, Valdemar R. Duarte, Antero Abrunhosa, António Grilo, João Agostinho do Nascimento, Mário Pimenta. 2020-07-21. Prototype of an affordable pressure-controlled emergency mechanical ventilator for COVID-19. https://arxiv.org/abs/2004.00310

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