Coronavirus: Help Needed for Rapidly Deployable Ventilators

[LeaningCy]

COVID-19 is about to overwhelm our nation's supply of ventilators and we may need a war-like manufacturing effort to address the coming demand.

I've been trying to figure out how my company can help and have come across a few groups trying to respond.

This one was just set up by residents of Massachusetts General Hospital so I wanted to share since this board is full of fellow engineering grads whose companies may be able to help.



https://www.coventchallenge.com/

Description: Founded by residents at Massachusetts General Hospital, the CoVent-19 Challenge will be a completely virtual open moonshot competition hosted on Slack to develop a rapidly deployable mechanical ventilation solution.

More details to come soon. We appreciate all of the advice and buzz that we are hearing from all parts of our global community.

This is rapidly developing so for now, anyone interested can enter your email address at the link above for updates.

I'll try to keep this updated, but please share any other areas where we can help.

 

[MeanDean]

COVID-19 is about to overwhelm our nation's supply of ventilators and we may need a war-like manufacturing effort to address the coming demand.

I've been trying to figure out how my company can help and have come across a few groups trying to respond.

This one was just set up by residents of Massachusetts General Hospital so I wanted to share since this board is full of fellow engineering grads whose companies may be able to help.

https://www.coventchallenge.com/



I'll try to keep this updated, but please share any other areas where we can help.

I read somewhere that perhaps in less severely demanding patients that CPAP (and the other device similar that does both inhale and exhale modes - I forget the name) might be enough.

I have obviously no knowledge of this but with the number of people who have tried the machines and decided not to use them nightly, perhaps there are tens of thousands or more of these machines in people's homes that they'd be happy to donate if they could be sanitized, checked and used to help in this crisis.

 

[LeaningCy]

I read somewhere that perhaps in less severely demanding patients that CPAP (and the other device similar that does both inhale and exhale modes - I forget the name) might be enough.

I have obviously no knowledge of this but with the number of people who have tried the machines and decided not to use them nightly, perhaps there are tens of thousands or more of these machines in people's homes that they'd be happy to donate if they could be sanitized, checked and used to help in this crisis.

Bingo. That is being discussed as one of the options to increase availability.

If the number of victims surges beyond that capacity, they say, they may try novel approaches such as having two patients on one ventilator. Tubing for ventilators, which is usually thrown out, could be sanitized and reused. Other types of hospital equipment, such as those used for sleep apnea, could be repurposed as makeshift ventilators. Only if those strategies fail and the sick continue to exceed capacity would rationing protocols be put into place

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/03/15/coronavirus-rationing-us/

 

[Urbandale2013]

This is where I hope we put effort. I think we can more effectively increase our limit of medical care than we can completely shut down society. I don’t have any way to help with this but I’m hopeful it will work.

 

[Cyclonepride]

This is where I hope we put effort. I think we can more effectively increase our limit of medical care than we can completely shut down society. I don’t have any way to help with this but I’m hopeful it will work.

Definitely need to do that, and a good start would be in removing the ridiculous Certificate of Need barriers that are intended to limit supply (and therefore, competition).

 

[WhoISthis]

This is where I hope we put effort. I think we can more effectively increase our limit of medical care than we can completely shut down society. I don’t have any way to help with this but I’m hopeful it will work.

It’s not as mutually exclusive of a choice as you’re making it here.

1.) Limit needless socializing, of which most of society is still participating is a must. 2.) So is society figuring out how to deal with the looming medical constraints we’re facing, of which 1.) is the most effective and efficient way, but will likely not be able to be the only way.

 

[mywayorcyway]

I read somewhere that perhaps in less severely demanding patients that CPAP (and the other device similar that does both inhale and exhale modes - I forget the name) might be enough.

I have obviously no knowledge of this but with the number of people who have tried the machines and decided not to use them nightly, perhaps there are tens of thousands or more of these machines in people's homes that they'd be happy to donate if they could be sanitized, checked and used to help in this crisis.

I have an APAP (which I believe doubles as a CPAP) that I don't use. Any idea where I could donate this to someone who could use it?

 

[MeanDean]

I have an APAP (which I believe doubles as a CPAP) that I don't use. Any idea where I could donate this to someone who could use it?

I don't think it's gotten to that point yet. I'm sure if it does there'll be good publication of the effort.

 

[UnCytely]

I read somewhere that perhaps in less severely demanding patients that CPAP (and the other device similar that does both inhale and exhale modes - I forget the name) might be enough.

I have obviously no knowledge of this but with the number of people who have tried the machines and decided not to use them nightly, perhaps there are tens of thousands or more of these machines in people's homes that they'd be happy to donate if they could be sanitized, checked and used to help in this crisis.

I am sure there are. I had two CPAP machines in a garage, which I inherited from my mom and brother. The machines unfortunately were lost when I contracted to have the stuff in the garage moved, and the movers either stole or destroyed most of the stuff instead of moving it.

 

[cowgirl836]

This is where I hope we put effort. I think we can more effectively increase our limit of medical care than we can completely shut down society. I don’t have any way to help with this but I’m hopeful it will work.

Don't forget you need trained people to care for people in the ICU. That has been an issue as well.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Saw a tweet this morning with a story from a company that makes ventilators that they have the ability to ramp up capacity 5 fold. It also said that no one has contacted them with an order, so there's that, but still good news.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Found it

 

[CascadeClone]

It’s not as mutually exclusive of a choice as you’re making it here.

1.) Limit needless socializing, of which most of society is still participating is a must. 2.) So is society figuring out how to deal with the looming medical constraints we’re facing, of which 1.) is the most effective and efficient way, but will likely not be able to be the only way.

Yep. This is the whole reason to reduce interactions, flatten the curve - to buy time.

Time to set up additional beds. Time to build more ventilators. Time to train more nurses. Time to make more masks. Time to make and do more tests. Time to develop a vaccine.

Turn a flash flood into a slow riser. Still a flood, but much less destructive.

 

[madguy30]

Saw a tweet this morning with a story from a company that makes ventilators that they have the ability to ramp up capacity 5 fold. It also said that no one has contacted them with an order, so there's that, but still good news.

Can they do it without having orders placed? At worst they can sell them later. I'd think proactivity would be a plus.

 

[HFCS]

Saw a tweet this morning with a story from a company that makes ventilators that they have the ability to ramp up capacity 5 fold. It also said that no one has contacted them with an order, so there's that, but still good news.

JFC

 

[HFCS]

Can they do it without having orders placed? At worst they can sell them later. I'd think proactivity would be a plus.

It's pretty frustrating both ways. It's a safe bet they'll be able to sell them and we're dropping trillions for thirty minutes of stock market denial but not placing ventilator orders.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Can they do it without having orders placed? At worst they can sell them later. I'd think proactivity would be a plus.

JFC

No doubt that there are companies out there with orders that own more elected officials.

 

[mj4cy]

Saw a tweet this morning with a story from a company that makes ventilators that they have the ability to ramp up capacity 5 fold. It also said that no one has contacted them with an order, so there's that, but still good news.

Surprised knowing what's going on that they wouldn't do that anyways.