Open Source Respirators & Ventilators

Open Source Respirators & Ventilators - open-source assistive technology working model by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) community

About this project

In the event that COVID-19 hospitalizations exhaust the availability of FDA approved ventilators. Johnny Lee's project attempts to convert a low-cost CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) blower into a rudimentary ventilator-ish device that could help with breathing during an acute respiratory distress. Read more in resources.

The challenge

There is a world wide shortage of ventilators.

Who it helps

In the most severe cases of COVID-19, many patients contract pneumonia, and those who are hospitalized for COVID-19 often require mechanical ventilation or are put on ventilators when they are placed in Intensive Care Units.

How it works

Specs

Rudimentary design with a programmable breathing rate (ex: 10-16/min)

Possibility for a programmed Positive End-Expiatory Pressure (PEEP)

Blower is physically able to hit a peak airway pressure of up to 45 cm h2o. However, going above 20 cm h2o can be DANGEROUS.

Device cannot yet hit a target tidal volume. What level of accuracy in volume would be sufficient? 100mL? 10mL?

Does not regulate fractional oxygen (FiO2). But, a down stream connection to an O2 tank is possible to boost O2 concentration with manual flow adjustment. Johnny wants to know if he should use a pointer to a low cost O2 sensor.

Limited functionality could be helpful when better care is not available. It is also a starting point for making progress. Critical features can be added over time.

Read more on GitHub and help Johnny further develop this project.

Developer History

This is design was created by Johnny Lee. Check out his Youtube Channel .

WARNING/DISCLAIMER FROM THE DEVELOPER: Whenever possible, please seek professional medical care with proper equipment setup by trained individuals. Do not use random information you found on the internet. I am not a medical professional, just a random person on the internet.

Project details

The build files for Open Source Respirators & Ventilators are free to download from this page - open source, shared by TOM: Tikkun Olam Makers.

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