Amateur Radio Operators Working on Low-cost Ventilator

ARRL News ^ | 2/23/2020 | American Radio Relay League

[econjack]

The goal of the group is to make an inexpensive ventilator that can be produced anywhere in the world from commonly-sourced parts. Relaxed FDA regulations has helped in the US, but the needs in other parts of the world far exceed the ventilator supply and people are dying because of it.

[RummyChick]

i posted one yesterday found on youtube.

it would work when CUomo tells granny she can’t have a ventilator.

Also saw a guy on youtube take a CPAP machine and rig something up.

[Magnum44]

you can build a lot of cool stuff from PVC pipe and lawn-sprinkler valves...and occasionally a grill igniter...hehe

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Great fun, I’ve made those before.

[Magnum44]

Made what? I dont know what you are talking about... ;)

[Buckeye McFrog]

Someone posted an article here about a doctor in rural Canada who figured out a way to sustain nine patients off of one ventilator.

Necessity truly is the mother of invention.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I read that in this country alone there are 300x as many CPAPs as ventilators --- maybe more, these were old figures --- and a lot of them are sitting, seldom or never-used, on people's night tables.

And that they can be rather handily calibrated up to help patients who need "moderate" breathing support, freeing up significant numbers of ventilators to be used by those who have the most critical need.

Now if I know that, wouldn't you think every pulmonologist in the country knows that?

I could get positively optimistic --- if clinicians could make best use of what's at hand.

And then there's 3D printed medical devices, right? Surely people have it underway already.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I read that in this country alone there are 300x as many CPAPs as ventilators --- maybe more, these were old figures --- and a lot of the are sitting, seldom or never-used, on people's night tables.

And that they can be rather handily calibrated up to help patients who need "moderate" breathing support, freeing up significant numbers of ventilators to be used by those who have the most critical need.

Now if I know that, wouldn't you think every pulmonologist in the country knows that?

I could get positively optimistic --- if clinicians could make best use of what's at hand.

And then there's 3D printed medical devices, right? Surely people have it underway already.

[Cold Heart]

The governor of Nevada will outlaw them.

[RummyChick]

i have a cpap machine that i dont use because i cant stand it.

i need to dig up all the parts in case i need it.

[wastoute]

Ceiling fans for vents, Bennet Machines for vents, PVC pipe and sprinkler valves for vents, 9 people to a vent. This must be Babylon Bee.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

The Potato Cannons.

[Trumpnado2016]

That idiot Governor of Nevada will ban it and arrest anyone promoting it because it is not FDA approved.

[econjack]

I just read that the FDA is being advised on the groups work and will be testing the unit. Also, FDA has relaxed the rules surrounding ventilators. Finally, there is also demand for such inexpensive devices outside of the US.

[Right Wing Assault]

Put the hose on the exhaust port on you shop vac. Stick it in your mouth and turn it on, off, on, off,...

[wastoute]

Until we know there are NO patients who were taking Plaquenil previously among the dead this Governor could be the smart one.

[WildHighlander57]

wastoute wrote:

“Until we know there are NO patients who were taking Plaquenil previously among the dead this Governor could be the smart one.”

We —do— need more info!

[jdsteel]

“ i have a cpap machine that i dont use because i cant stand it.”

There’s a bunch of choices now with CPAP “masks”. The old style full face thing has lots of better alternatives. The nose pillow is my favorite. Check email out; you can even buy them online...cheaper than through the doctor.

[phs3]

How do we get the arduino crowd involved too.

[econjack]

I’ll do a post on the Arduino Forum...good idea!

Jack, W8TEE