What is a ventilator?

“Mechanical ventilation is a life support treatment. A mechanical ventilator is a machine that helps people breathe when they are not able to breathe enough on their own. The mechanical ventilator is also called a ventilator, respirator, or breathing machine. Most patients who need support from a ventilator because of a severe illness are cared for in a hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU).” (Ref)

Why is there a ventilator shortage?

The sudden surge of COVID-19 patients in respiratory distress may exceed the number of ventilators that are available. For several examples of this already happening, see below:

1. NPR - As The Pandemic Spreads, Will There Be Enough Ventilators?

2. Province looks for more ventilators ahead of potential COVID-19 spread

   1. “Italy — which as of Sunday had more than 20,000 cases of COVID-19 and almost 1,500 deaths — recently issued a tender for an additional 5,000 ventilators from equipment manufacturers”

   2. “At a news conference following the announcement, Premier Stephen McNeil told reporters Nova Scotia had ordered 140 ventilators, a nearly 60 per cent increase to the existing supply of about 240 ventilators.”

3. European countries search for ventilators as virus cases surge

   1. Italy sends soldiers to boost production, Germany orders 10,000 devices and British PM calls manufacturers to produce more ventilators

Why aren’t health care authorities buying more ventilators?

We believe that they are buying more. However, if every hospital in the COVID-19 zones orders ventilators, there will be a significant delay in procuring the ventilators.

What About Regulatory Approval and Liabilities?

This was the response on a online forum when someone suggested helping hospitals by building ventilators:

“Mechanical ventilators are a FDA regulated medical device. It is extremely irresponsible to suggest that random people should construct them in an unregulated and uncontrolled environment and attempt to use them on human patients. It’s great that you want to help, encouraging people to do this is not the way to help.”

We acknowledge that there are significant regulatory and legal hurdles. However, we believe that the severity of the COVID pandemic and crisis justifies moving forward with a design. We will continuously evaluate both the needs and risks associated with potentially using the ventilators we are creating. We will also aim to follow as many regulatory requirements as possible in the limited time we have.