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Amateur Radio Operators Working on Low-cost Ventilator
ARRL News ^ | 2/23/2020 | American Radio Relay League

Posted on 03/25/2020 7:03:32 AM PDT by econjack

Amateur radio volunteers from around the world have volunteered to assist University of Florida Professor Sam Lampotang and his engineering team in their quest to rapidly develop an open-source, low-cost patient ventilator that can be built anywhere from such commonly available components as PVC pipe and lawn-sprinkler valves.

(Excerpt) Read more at arrl.org ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: covid19; hams; ventilator
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To: econjack

Why not convert APAP or CPAP units to ventilators, APAP is the better choice, they do need daily cleaning.


21 posted on 03/25/2020 10:02:10 AM PDT by GailA (I'm a Trump Girl)
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To: GailA

That is being consider, too.


22 posted on 03/25/2020 10:02:40 AM PDT by econjack
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Agree. Now to PP, expapant mothers are prepping for home births, even in the 1800 midwives where used, studied under a already practicing one. Good and bad ones, the good ones where in high demand by the wealthy, Or had a neighbor who had already had children. It is not as easy as TV makes it seem. ALL 5 of my aunts and both uncles were born via midwives. All have passed as they were in their 80-90’s. 1 uncle died of moonshine poisoning, the other of a ruptured heart in his late 70’s.

Turn all PP clinics into BIRTHING CENTERS with a MIDWIFE’S, we still have them, 1 DOCTOR OB/GYN ON CALL. Move incubators, issoletes over to them. Have place sterilized first..fund for 2 months till this Coronavirus dies down. WOMEN ARE AFRAID TO GIVE BIRTH IN A HOSPITAL NOW.


23 posted on 03/25/2020 10:14:32 AM PDT by GailA (I'm a Trump Girl)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

A CPAP or APAP can push air into lungs but it doesn’t help to exhale. In fact it can make that more difficult due to the constant pressure it creates. A ventilator as I understand helps with inhaling and exhaling.

Some CPAPs have a feature that relieves the pressure some when users exhale, but that relief is not complete, it only lessens the the pressure by 1 to 3 cmH2O. So with this feature if someone needed 15 cmH20 of pressure the relief at maximum would be 12 cmH20. Even if the pressure could be taken to 0 that would still not help with exhaling.

All this isn’t to say that some of the components of the APAP and CPAPs couldn’t be used to come up with something for those that need just a little help. I hope Philips and Resmed, the big CPAP companies, are looking into this.


24 posted on 03/25/2020 10:24:14 AM PDT by chickenlips
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To: wastoute

Niece takes Placquinl off label for Lupus.


25 posted on 03/25/2020 10:34:06 AM PDT by GailA (I'm a Trump Girl)
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To: GailA

It seems a lot of people do which is why I think mine is a very good question.


26 posted on 03/25/2020 10:35:36 AM PDT by wastoute (Government cannot redistribute wealth. Government can only redistribute poverty.)
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To: chickenlips
You are right: but I do understand the CPAP alternative was proposed for people with comparatively mild breathing problems, thus easing the demand for ventilators, making the vents more available for those with more critical needs. It would not be for everyone.

The main point of the article (wish I could find it) was that the CPAP's could be recalibrated to help those who need mild respiratory support. That would not be people who have a desperate problem with *exhaling*.

I have read that some med device techies are figuring out ways to reconfigure one ventilator to serve 2 or 3 people simultaneously. That can take some modification, e.g. 3D printed parts.

With terrible constraints on the availability of critical care, very sick patients benefit greatly by giving the innovators the green-light. Sometimes "when every second counts" the acknowledged risks still are far smaller than known benefits.

27 posted on 03/25/2020 10:45:55 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints.)
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To: RummyChick

A CPAP isn’t going to help if you have ARDS...


28 posted on 03/25/2020 10:47:30 AM PDT by Osage Orange (uee)
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To: Buckeye McFrog

I think that is a interweb legend.......


29 posted on 03/25/2020 10:48:31 AM PDT by Osage Orange (uee)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

If these people need a Vent...a CPAP isn’t going to help.


30 posted on 03/25/2020 10:50:23 AM PDT by Osage Orange (uee)
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To: Osage Orange

does this thing this guy put together from a CPAP help at all.even if in the beginning while trying to deal with it at home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n57u1NvXBgw


31 posted on 03/25/2020 10:51:57 AM PDT by RummyChick
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To: RummyChick
If you have OSA...you need to find a mask that you can wear.

OSA isn't nothing to mess around with.

I assume you have a had Sleep Study?

32 posted on 03/25/2020 10:52:31 AM PDT by Osage Orange (uee)
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To: Osage Orange

yeah, i have the machine and all the stuff to go with it.

i need to start using it again

have been using nose strip which help


33 posted on 03/25/2020 10:54:12 AM PDT by RummyChick
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To: chickenlips
Okay....I'm a RRT...A vent...doesn't really help with exhalation. That is pretty passive. What it does do is give the Pt. a positive P breath....In ARDS..the lungs get "stiff".

So in the old days..we would crank up the VT..or tidal Vol...or how much in ml on each breathe...I believe we caused more harm than good then...We also used PEEP..It's a pressure..that we add to End Expiration. Laymans terms...it helps keep the lungs inflated. And when it works..it helps in aveloi inflation/recruitment..

But I am hearing numbers..from people..with PEEP's of 20.., 25...That to me say's that person is going to die.

34 posted on 03/25/2020 11:07:31 AM PDT by Osage Orange (FWIW)
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To: RummyChick

If you have mod to severe CONIQ-19..a CPAP machine is not what you want.


35 posted on 03/25/2020 11:13:01 AM PDT by Osage Orange (FWIW)
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To: Osage Orange
You've got that exactly right. But CPAPs and especially BiPAPs could fill in for people needing relatively milder breathing support, leaving the ventilators for those who absolutely NEED A VENTILATOR.

More (actually hopeful) info. in this article by medical device suppliers (LINK) stating that:

Use of BiPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) may forestall the need for intubation and has been broadly used in early case series and anecdotal reports. Additional CPAP machines might be available from home users for use in hospital settings, and adjusted criteria for intubation and weaning may reduce days on a ventilator.


36 posted on 03/25/2020 11:36:50 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o
I've used BiPAPS a lot...and have saved many people from getting intubated.

I've NEVER used a CPAP..in the hospital setting to forestall someone from getting "tubed".

IF that was all I had...It would be better than nothing I'd say...but CPAP machines are NOT designed for that.

FWIW-

37 posted on 03/25/2020 12:08:49 PM PDT by Osage Orange (FWIW)
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