Breast Pumps Converted Into Ventilators to Help COVID-19 Response
 

Breast Pumps Converted Into Ventilators to Help COVID-19 Response
https://www.medgadget.com/wp-content...ventilator.pngA team of engineers working at University of Maryland’s TechPort, typically a drone startup incubator, are converting breast pumps into rudimentary ventilators. Breast pumps create significant suction to pull milk out of a woman’s breast. Turns out the pressure, if reversed, can probably provide enough assistance to deliver the necessary positive end expiratory pressure that many patients in acute respiratory distress need.

https://www.medgadget.com/wp-content...-pump-vent.jpg
Since the breast pumps that are out there are mostly resting in attics unused, they may be quickly put to use as basic ventilators to help COVID-19 patients.

The engineers have already built a few prototypes, and can turn a breast pump into a simple ventilator for a total parts cost of about $300.

Some advantages of using breast pumps is that they’re built to medical standards, and have a closed-loop compressor that avoids getting contaminated, so only tubing needs to be replaced between patients, and all kinds of breast pump are compatible with the new approach.

Here’s a quick demo of the latest prototype:


Facebook group: Rapidly Deployable Breast Pump Ventilator to Combat Coronavirus

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Medgadget?d=yIl2AUoC8zA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Medgadget?d=qj6IDK7rITs http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Medg...uo:gIN9vFwOqvQ
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Medgadget/~4/VqCZ_IL_LCI