{"634067":{"#nid":"634067","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Simple, Low-Cost Ventilator Builds on Available Resuscitation Bags","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA simple, low-cost ventilator based on the resuscitation bags carried in ambulances \u0026ndash; and widely available in hospitals \u0026ndash; has been designed by an international team of university researchers. The device, which is powered by a 12-volt motor, could help meet peak medical demands in the industrialized world and serve resource-constrained countries that don\u0026rsquo;t have supplies of conventional ventilators.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;The high transmission rate and debilitating respiratory consequences of COVID-19 are creating an unmet demand for ventilators worldwide. It is heartwarming to see U.S. manufacturers open-source some of their FDA-approved designs to stimulate production.\u0026rdquo; said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Susan-Margulies\u0022\u003ESusan Margulies\u003C\/a\u003E, chair of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bme.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University\u003C\/a\u003E, an expert in ventilator-associated lung injuries. \u0026ldquo;Our strategy to rapidly expand the supply of ventilators focuses on a simple, low-cost design based on common resuscitation bags carried by ambulances.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe device, which can serve two patients simultaneously, can be produced from inexpensive metal stock and plastic gearing. Power comes from standard wall adapters or 12-volt vehicle batteries. The research team is working with the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.ott.emory.edu\/\u0022\u003EEmory University Office of Technology Transfer\u003C\/a\u003E to move the design into manufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;We are adapting the bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitators that are already in place, designed to be manually squeezed for reviving a patient,\u0026rdquo; said \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/yee\u0022\u003EShannon Yee\u003C\/a\u003E, an associate professor in \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech\u0026rsquo;s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026ldquo;We are providing the mechanical assist that allows the bags to be squeezed continuously for days rather than for short periods of time. We are using infrastructure already in place.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe device was designed at Cranfield University in the United Kingdom and built and tested at Georgia Tech in collaboration with Emory University. At Cranfield, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.centreforcreativedesign.com\/c4d-team\u0022\u003EProfessor Leon Williams\u003C\/a\u003E, head of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.centreforcreativedesign.com\/\u0022\u003ECentre for Competitive Creative Design\u003C\/a\u003E, specializes in rapid prototyping, and has been iterating the designs with researchers in Atlanta.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;We have paid special attention to the requirements of medical specialists to ensure that the system is fit for the purpose,\u0026rdquo; said Williams. \u0026ldquo;For example, we have ensured that the operator of the system is able to manually adjust the tidal volume \u0026ndash; the volume of air delivered to the lungs with each breath \u0026ndash; to safeguard the patient.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EYee said the device is intended to meet the critical needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;What\u0026rsquo;s unique about our design is that we have two BVM\u0026rsquo;s per ventilator, which allows two people to breathe with each device that is built,\u0026rdquo; Yee said. \u0026ldquo;Our goal was to provide the bare essentials for a ventilator to help with patients who have COVID-19 or acute respiratory distress syndrome.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThough each emergency ventilator can serve two patients simultaneously, their air flow is separate to avoid cross-contamination. Flow volumes can be controlled independently to meet the needs of each patient.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to Yee and Williams, Kyle Azevedo, a research engineer with the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)\u003C\/a\u003E, has been supporting quality control and test procedures for the device, collaborating with GTRI researchers Jonathan Holmes and Wiley Holcombe. A small batch of the devices has already been assembled for bench testing and shared with Georgia hospitals for evaluation.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;We believe these devices can be mass manufactured in quantities that make a tangible impact on ventilator shortages nationally or worldwide,\u0026rdquo; Azevedo said. \u0026ldquo;Leveraging the BVM resuscitators reduces the need for complex electronics, and most of the parts can be cut from flat stock or 3D printed. Actuation is via a simple DC motor and regulator, which are widely available.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EGTRI has experience with bringing concepts to reality, and is advising on manufacturing scale-up for the devices. \u0026ldquo;It\u0026rsquo;s very important to pay attention to design for mass manufacture,\u0026rdquo; he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe automated BVM ventilation system has been designed for use in emergency situations where all other ventilators are occupied, or in resource-restricted areas where traditional ventilators are simply not available. The systems are intended to be used on a temporary basis until a conventional ventilator becomes available.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe system is designed to be inexpensive to produce. \u0026ldquo;The BVM system is purposely designed to be modular and reconfigurable,\u0026rdquo; Williams said. \u0026ldquo;If we need to make further improvements to the system over time, this is possible.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBecause it is intended for global production and use, the BVM ventilator design emphasized using as few parts as possible, Yee said. The ventilator can supply oxygen from a hospital\u0026rsquo;s built-in supply system, or from a portable oxygen generator. The device must be used in conjunction with a pulse oximeter or other device that reliably provides a real-time reading of patient oxygen levels.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;We designed the ventilator to be simple to make, cut from sheets of steel,\u0026rdquo; Yee explained. \u0026ldquo;Kits can be assembled and packaged flat for shipping, then reassembled where needed. The manufacturing requires skills that are readily available, and hand tools could even be used.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWith just a few weeks until the demand for medical support from ventilators is expected to peak in some hard-hit communities, the researchers understand the race against time to get their engineering drawings out to manufacturers. \u0026ldquo;We really need to get this out to people,\u0026rdquo; Yee said. \u0026ldquo;Time is of the essence.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearch News\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n177 North Avenue\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nAtlanta, Georgia\u0026nbsp; 30332-0181\u0026nbsp; USA\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMedia Relations Contact\u003C\/strong\u003E: Georgia Tech - John Toon (404-894-6986) (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jtoon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejtoon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E); Cranfield University \u0026ndash; (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:mediarelations@cranfield.ac.uk\u0022\u003Emediarelations@cranfield.ac.uk\u003C\/a\u003E)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter\u003C\/strong\u003E: John Toon\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA simple, low-cost ventilator based on the resuscitation bags carried in ambulances \u0026ndash; and widely available in hospitals \u0026ndash; has been designed by an international team of university researchers. The device, which is powered by a 12-volt motor, could help meet peak medical demands in the industrialized world and serve resource-constrained countries that don\u0026rsquo;t have supplies of conventional ventilators.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A simple, low-cost ventilator based on the resuscitation bags carried in ambulances has been designed and tested."}],"uid":"27303","created_gmt":"2020-04-06 12:25:11","changed_gmt":"2020-04-06 12:46:06","author":"John Toon","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2020-04-06T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2020-04-06T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"634061":{"id":"634061","type":"image","title":"Simple, Low-cost Ventilator","body":null,"created":"1586174677","gmt_created":"2020-04-06 12:04:37","changed":"1586174677","gmt_changed":"2020-04-06 12:04:37","alt":"Simple, low-cost ventilator","file":{"fid":"241273","name":"ventilator1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/ventilator1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/ventilator1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":474410,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/ventilator1.jpg?itok=igq1TNgI"}},"634062":{"id":"634062","type":"image","title":"Evaluating Operation of the Ventilator","body":null,"created":"1586174837","gmt_created":"2020-04-06 12:07:17","changed":"1586174837","gmt_changed":"2020-04-06 12:07:17","alt":"Evaluating operation of the ventilator","file":{"fid":"241274","name":"ventilator3.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/ventilator3.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/ventilator3.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":509458,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/ventilator3.jpg?itok=UovS7MBM"}},"634063":{"id":"634063","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech Ventilator Team","body":null,"created":"1586175099","gmt_created":"2020-04-06 12:11:39","changed":"1586175099","gmt_changed":"2020-04-06 12:11:39","alt":"Team that manufactured the ventilator","file":{"fid":"241275","name":"ventilator-invention-studio-1376.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/ventilator-invention-studio-1376.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/ventilator-invention-studio-1376.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":770231,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/ventilator-invention-studio-1376.jpg?itok=plZzXP_1"}},"634064":{"id":"634064","type":"image","title":"Simple, Low-cost Ventilator-2","body":null,"created":"1586175238","gmt_created":"2020-04-06 12:13:58","changed":"1586175238","gmt_changed":"2020-04-06 12:13:58","alt":"Simple, low-cost ventilator","file":{"fid":"241276","name":"ventilator2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/ventilator2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/ventilator2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":576110,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/ventilator2.jpg?itok=i09-8bvH"}}},"media_ids":["634061","634062","634063","634064"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"179356","name":"Industrial Design"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"}],"keywords":[{"id":"184368","name":"ventilator"},{"id":"184369","name":"bag-valve-mask"},{"id":"184372","name":"BVM ventilator"},{"id":"184373","name":"resuscitation bag"},{"id":"184289","name":"covid-19"},{"id":"184284","name":"GTCOVID"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Toon\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EResearch News\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E(404) 894-6986\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jtoon@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}