A team from Rice University has developed a low-cost ventilator that could help with the global coronavirus pandemic, and it only costs about $300 to manufacture.
Rice students used 3D technology to create a prototype last year, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, they joined with a Canadian company to develop a more robust version.
A typical ventilator used to treat coronavirus patients costs about $10,000.
Amy Kavalewitz, executive director of the engineering department, explained to KHOU-11 that the low-cost ventilator would be an option for non-critical patients.
"The immediate goal is a device that works well enough to keep non-critical COVID-19 patients stable and frees up larger ventilators for more critical patients," said Kavalewitz.
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6 comments:
Anyone with a CPAP already has a rudimentary ventilator. It's not as efficient or powerful as the medical version but if you are in respiratory distress it's probably enough to save your life.
I recall an episode of MASH where they built a mechanical ventilator in the field.
It won't be allowed to be used, just like 3-D printed arms and legs. Cost a few hundred bucks but medical arms and legs are thousands! Them medical profession is full of crooks!
You get what you pay for.
I saw that thing. $300 for a compression arm for a rubber air bag. The air bag is the same one that EMTs use to ventilate a patient in route to the hospital. The EMT has to squeeze it to give the patient every breath that is forced into the lungs. It is a rudimentary device, at best. And like all medical devices, it is too much money for what you get. And unattended patient hooked up to that device will die the moment it quits working. It should not be approved for use. See it and decide for yourself. See if you want your life (and your next breath of air) depending on that contraption that looks like something from the 1800's.
Ok thank you
Now let me google CPAP . . .
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