Utah-Stanford Ventilator (Vent4US): Developing a rapidly scalable ventilator for COVID-19 patients with ARDS

Authors: Hongquan Li, Ethan Li, Deepak Krishnamurthy, Patrick Kolbay, Beca Chacin, Soeren Hoehne, Jim Cybulski, Lara Brewer, Tomasz Petelenz, Joseph Orr, Derek Sakata, Thomas Clardy, Kai Kuck, Manu Prakash

Link: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.18.20070367v1

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.18.20070367

Abstract: We describe a minimum, rapidly scalable ventilator designed for COVID-19 patients with ARDS. Our design philosophy is not only to try to address potential ventilator shortages, but also to account for uncertainties in the supply chains of parts commonly used in traditional ventilators. To do so we employ a modular design approach and broadly explore taking advantage of parts from non-traditional supply chains. In our current prototype, we demonstrate volume control with assist control on a test lung and present a linear actuator-driven pinch valve-based implementation for both pressure control and volume control with decelerating inspiratory flow. We estimate the component cost of the system to be around $500. We publish our draft design documents and current implementation which is open and accessible in the hope that broadening the community globally will accelerate arriving at a solution and that peer review will improve the final design.