The PolyVent educational platform: An open mechanical ventilation platform for research and education

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Open Source Hardware

Background:

• Mechanical ventilators are critical in medical settings but often lack accessibility for research and education.
• Existing designs can be proprietary, limiting modification and widespread adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the PolyVent, an open-source mechanical ventilator.
• To provide a platform for research, education, and further development of open-source medical devices.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes an ESP32 microcontroller to control a proportional valve for precise pressure and flow modulation.
• Employs solenoid valves for gas mixing (oxygen and medical air) and patient inflation.
• Features a modular design with a standardized backplane for electronic cards and an open footprint for easy modification.

Main Results:

• The PolyVent offers precise control over ventilation parameters via a command-line interface.
• Includes VentMon, an IoT-enabled spirometer for remote monitoring and data collection.
• The design facilitates easy troubleshooting and modification, enhancing its educational value.

Conclusions:

• The PolyVent serves as a highly modifiable and accessible platform for open-source medical ventilator research and education.
• It is positioned as a foundational component for a broader open-source human respiration research ecosystem.