Design Construction and Performance Test of a Low-Cost Pandemic Ventilator for Breathing Support

Abstract

Abstract: Mass casualty incidents such as those that are being experienced during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic can overwhelm local healthcare systems, where the number of casualties exceeds local resources and capabilities in a short period of time. The introduction of patients with worsening lung function as a result of COVID-19 has strained traditional ventilator supplies. Mechanical ventilator is a medical device which is usually utilized to ventilate patients who cannot breathe adequately on their own. Among many types of ventilators Bag Valve Mask (BVM) is a manual ventilator in which a bag is pressed to deliver air into the lungs of the patient. In present work, a mechanical system along with speed controller has been developed to automate the operation of BVM. The constructed prototype contains crank, powered by servo motor, supported by wooden frame. To bridge the gap during ventilator shortages and to help clinicians triage patients, manual resuscitator devices can be used to deliver respirations to a patient requiring breathing support. With principal dimensions of 0.54*0.64 m2 , bvm weighs 0.9 kg and DC power convertor for supplying power for a continuous operation, the prototype can be moved easily. The dimensions of the frame are selected as such to be compatible with the physical dimension of Ambu bag. The performance of the device was tested using Airflow meter which illustrates that the Tidal Volume vs. Time graph of the automated system is similar to the graph produced by manual operation of the BVM, but with a mean deviation of 0.182 Litres with manual operation and 0.1 Litres with prototype. For patients who require ventilatory support, manual ventilation is a vital procedure. It has to be performed by experienced healthcare providers that are regularly trained for the use of bag-valve-mask (BVM) in emergency situations. Keywords: Mechanical Ventilator, Automated BVM, BPM, COVID-19, Ventilator design, Airflow meter