Pneumatically Driven Ventilator
Project Name:
Pneumatically Driven Ventilator
Project Synopsis:
Modern ventilators have battery backup in case of power failure. In a place where batteries are maintained and replaced according to a maintenance schedule, these ventilators work fine. In remote locations, battery failure means the end of life for these machines. We were inspired by the simplicity of the Draeger NarkoMed 2B, one of the last of the pneumatically driven anesthesia ventilator, and wanted to design a ventilator that would run off compressed gas to run the ventilator in the event of a power failure. This ventilator would be coupled with a compressed air tank that can store enough compressed air to last several hours without electricity.
Dr. Ikeda completed the proof of concept during the COVID lockdowns of 2020. Since then, he is seeking funding to refine the design and make it portable.
This simple ventilator would have pressure support and volume control. The prototype and the first manufacturable versions will have discrete pneumatic components sourced from industrial control sector. In the future, many of the components shall be printed on 3D printers located in-country.
