AmboVent
A group of researchers in Israel is developing an alternative emergency ventilator system called the AmboVent-1690-108, based on a bag valve mask.
The research group, made up of Air Force electronics experts, robotics specialists and medical professionals created the Ambu bag-based system with a motor, microprocessor development board and an electronic circuit to connect to the ventilator and provide automated, volume-controlled ventilation. Other off-the-shelf components include a snowblower motor, a controller, a development board and a pressure sensor, according to a report on NoCamels.com.
Researchers made 20 prototypes to send to physicians, clinicians and developers across the world with the hopes of bringing the prototypes to regulators to fast track authorization. The Israeli Health Ministry is currently evaluating the device and a trial on pigs is set to begin at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem.
“It is not a medical device yet,” Dr. Eitan Eliram said in the report. “We need to do a few more tests and build a better version. There’s a whole regulatory process but we are receiving guidance from the Health Ministry on our path toward testing.” Given the situation, he says, there has to be a way to “compress the process because the AmboVent can save lives.”
