Repurposing CPAP machines as stripped-down ventilators

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Global medical-grade ventilator shortages significantly impacted the COVID-19 pandemic.
• High costs and long lead times limit access to critical respiratory support equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a mass-producible, low-cost solution for augmenting ventilator capacity.
• To adapt existing medical devices, specifically CPAP machines, into functional low-pressure ventilators.

Main Methods:

• Design and conceptualization of a modular attachment for CPAP machines.
• Integration of the module to repurpose CPAP functionality for ventilation.
• Initial performance measurements to validate the concept's potential.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated feasibility of converting CPAP machines into low-pressure ventilators.
• Preliminary data indicates the potential effectiveness of the proposed module.
• The solution offers a stripped-down alternative for less critical respiratory support.

Conclusions:

• The proposed modular solution presents a viable pathway for increasing ventilator availability.
• This approach can serve as a foundation for open-access ventilator technologies.
• Further development could provide critical respiratory support in resource-limited settings.