Cost-effective and power-efficient portable turbine-based emergency ventilator

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Device Development

Background:

• Conventional ventilators are costly due to expensive components and complex development.
• There is a need for affordable, accessible, and portable ventilation solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel, rapidly developed, portable ventilator using 3D printing and off-the-shelf components.
• To enhance ventilator efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• Development of a turbine and valve-based ventilator system.
• Implementation of a unique servo-based pressure release mechanism and a novel PEEP valve.
• Integration of feed-forward and PID controllers with a sensor data filtration methodology.
• Utilization of an Android GUI and firmware with flow meter and pressure sensor for breathing detection.

Main Results:

• The novel system achieves approximately 36 times greater efficiency compared to solenoid-based systems.
• The PEEP valve operates without electromechanical components, increasing reliability.
• The ventilator is modular, portable, energy-efficient, low-noise, and features a replaceable battery with solar power capability.
• The system can operate for 5-6 hours on battery power.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D-printed ventilator offers a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional devices.
• The innovative design addresses the need for accessible medical ventilation technology.
• The portable and energy-efficient system has the potential for widespread application in various medical settings.