Summary

Already validated, this is an immediate solution for invasive ventilator shortages worldwide, at a very low cost.
It allows to adapt non-invasive ventilators to be used as Invasive Mechanical Ventilators, using equipment already widely available on hospitals and on the market.
Not intended to be equated in any way with a differentiated ventilator for Invasive Mechanical Ventilation, on crisis scenarios such as Covid-19 pandemic context, in a situation of imminent risk to the patient’s life and in the absence of an ICU ventilator, the solution is a safe, practical and effective alternative.

1. Results were already submitted on European Journal of Anaesthesiology, peer-reviewed and accepted for publication.
2. Formal Request Submitted to Infarmed (Portuguese National Authority of Medicines and Health Products, I.P.), formally subscripted by 180 doctors (in Portuguese).

Details

1.  Technical details.
2.  Step by step Assembly Manual
3.  Infarmed Request (In Portuguese)
4.  Video: Circuit
5.  Video: Validation Trials at Bosch
6.  Dr. Paulo Roberto Presentation Letter (In Portuguese)

Why is it different from other solutions

1. Hospitals worldwide can build it in-house, today and for less than 5€.
2. Already scientifically reviewed and validated.
3. Does not imply future overstocking of mechanical ventilators.
4. Does not require healthcare professionals any additional training.

What’s next

1. Reach health teams around the world and provide them with the step by step Assembly Manual.
2. Get formal support from health regulatory agencies in order to license its widespread use.
3. We intend to legally declare we do not want to make a profit out of it.

Team

1. Paulo-Roberto Ferreira, Department of Anaesthesiology, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia / Espinho, Portugal. Department of Medical Sciences, Univerity of Aveiro, Portugal.
   Project role: Concept design, clinical application.
2. Tiago Oliveira-e-Sá, Pulmonology Department, Hospital de Santa Marta, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Portugal; NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal.
   Project role: Concept design, clinical application.
3. Duarte Almeida, Process Development and I4.0 engineering, Bosch Thermotechnology, Portugal.
   Project role: Testing equipment development, automation, instrumentation and Engineering coordination.
4. Vitor Silva, R&D Laboratory Management, Bosch Thermotechnology, Portugal.
   Project role: Measuring equipment development, mechanics, instrumentation and post-processing data algorithms.
5. Filipe Rego, Manufacturing Engineering, Bosch Thermotechnology, Portugal.
   Project role: Labview sw development and intrumentation advisory.
6. Nuno Mateus, Quality Process, Quality and Safety, Bosch Thermotechnology, Portugal.
   Project role: Sensor calibration and statistical analysis.
7. André Cunha, Metallurgical and Materials Engineer, Fernando Pinto Catão & Irmão Lda., Portugal
   Project role: Connectors design and industrialization.

Partnerships and Aknowledgements

1. Department of Anaesthesiology, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho – Portugal.
2. Department of Medical Sciences, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal.
3. Pulmonology Department, Hospital de Santa Marta, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Portugal.
4. NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal.
5. Bosch Thermotechnology Portugal: laboratorial equipment and facilities.
6. Rita Meireles (Intensive Care Unit, CHTS, Portugal), Ana Bernardino (Anaesthesiology Department, CHUC, Portugal) and Francisco Soares (Cardiology Department, HSA/HDL, Portugal): conceptual development, clinical validation and scientific reviewing.
7. Francisco Pitschieller (freelancer technical designer): diagrams and “User’s Manual” design.
8. Pedro Menezes (FEUP, Portugal); Daniel Vasconcelos (IESCTEC/FEUP, Portugal), Rui Oliveira (Trativi, Portugal): silicon connector development.
9. Helpful Engineering: platform for network creation.
10. Breas Portugal and Linde Portugal: for borrowing ventilators, circuits and valves.
11. Giammarco Casanova, Caroline Mindus, Andrius Zhilenas, Yahya Mohamed Mao among others for mentoring our project during EUvsVirus.org Hackathon.
12. Ricardo Castro (freelancer): for his help creating the video.
13. Tiago Moura (I4.0 Engineer, Bosch Thermotechnology, Portugal): for helping in the testing equipment assembly.

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  Circuit Diagram

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  Circuit Details

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  Validation Trials at Bosch Thermotechnology Metrology Lab

Contacts:
Paulo-Roberto C Ferreira, anesthesiologist; Pauloroberto.xpta@gmail.com; +351 967 546 707