In March we shared news of an international online non-profit competition launched to accelerate the production of ‘easy-to-build ventilators’ to treat COVID-19. Less than three months later and the challenge led by Ennomotive has produced the low-cost Oxyvita ventilator, designed by British engineer, Frede Jensen.
Now a solidarity initiative is underway to make the ventilator available to parts of the world tackling spikes in the pandemic. The ventilator can be designed quickly and tested locally. Some components can be sourced within the countries using it and additional electronics and software can be sent from Spain. This keeps the price down to €1000, far lower than conventional ventilators. Crucially, healthcare staff with no intensive-care experience can learn to use it after a 30-minute training session.
The solidarity initiative has been established to offer ‘help to any country that needs to manufacture ventilators locally’ and ‘will be available for makeshift wards and humanitarian missions anywhere in the world’. Ennomotive is working with Lyntia, Vithas and its Foundation, and McFly Technologies to deliver the solidarity project.
More information.
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