Remote-Accessible Ventilator Innovation

Amidst the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, academic institutions and scientific centers tackle the critical shortage of respirators. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education provided additional financial support for the development of promising solutions and prototypes. The project was driven by the determination to provide life-saving equipment and support healthcare professionals.

The challenge was to rapidly respond to the escalating demand for ventilators, necessitating a comprehensive solution that could be swiftly developed and deployed. The focus was on ensuring the availability of reliable and cost-effective ventilators to meet the critical needs of healthcare facilities.

The project encompassed the design, development, and production of advanced respiratory ventilators. There was a strong focus on leveraging existing medical knowledge and rapidly acquiring insights to enhance the ventilator's functionalities. Central to this was the gathering of knowledge, which was crucial in customizing the solution to meet the specific needs of medical professionals.Our comprehensive approach included close collaboration with medical professionals to understand user requirements and translate them into technical solutions. This involved the manufacturing of electronic and mechanical components, writing both low- and high-level software, and engaging in extensive consultations with medical experts.

Looking ahead, the focus shifts towards finding manufacturing partners, obtaining necessary certifications, and entering the market. The goal is to establish a reliable supply chain for these ventilators, making a significant contribution to the healthcare infrastructure.

Our dedicated and multidisciplinary team, including project managers, engineers, developers, and medical experts, collaborated to bring diverse perspectives and expertise to the project. They are

• a Project Manager,
• Mechanical Constructors
• Designer,
• Pneumatic Mechanics
• Electronics Engineers,
• Solutions Architect,
• Tech Lead,
• Embedded Programmers,
• Backend Developers (Java, Python),
• Frontend Developer & UX Designer,
• Anesthesiologists
• Manual Testers.

Java, Python, Linux, C, React, TypeScript, KiCad

Our team not only met the challenge head-on but exceeded expectations in several key areas:

• User-Friendly Interface: The developed user interface garnered praise for its intuitiveness, surpassing the usability of prevalent market solutions.Networked Respirator: The ventilator was designed to have mobile access, meaning it could be accessed, monitored, and controlled remotely from different locations.
• Universal Compatibility: The respirator was meticulously engineered to be wirelessly and seamlessly operable through any device with a web browser. However, direct operation does not require laptops, underscoring its design for ease of use and versatility.Innovative Housing Design: The specially crafted respirator housing enabled uninterrupted 24-hour battery operation without external power. This innovation rendered the device ideal for deployment in field hospitals and locations with limited power access.Money-Saving Approach: It can function as a standard hospital ventilator, offering the added benefit of potential cost savings compared to existing market options.
• Emergency Mode: A unique and invaluable addition, the emergency mode was developed based on expert insights from medical professionals. In crisis situations where operators lacked the necessary qualifications, the respirator activated voice command prompts, offering step-by-step instructions for simplified operation. This innovative feature addressed a critical gap in the market at the time.

Can a mechanical ventilator be operated remotely through a web browser?

Yes, a networked ventilator can be accessed, monitored and controlled remotely from different locations. In this project, InTechHouse engineered the respirator to be operated wirelessly through any device with a web browser, while direct operation does not require a laptop. The user interface was praised for being more intuitive than prevalent market solutions.

How can a ventilator guide operators who lack the qualifications to run it?

An emergency mode with voice command prompts can walk operators through simplified operation step by step. In this project, InTechHouse developed the emergency mode based on insights from medical professionals: in crisis situations where operators lacked the necessary qualifications, the respirator activated voice prompts with step-by-step instructions, addressing a gap in the market at the time.

What is still required before a pandemic-era ventilator prototype reaches the market?

Manufacturing partners, the necessary certifications and a reliable supply chain are the next steps. In this project, InTechHouse delivered a networked ventilator built with Java, Python, Linux, C, React, TypeScript and KiCad, and the focus then shifted to finding manufacturing partners, obtaining certifications and entering the market.