Image from Ventec Life Systems
The ventilator has come to the fore as a vital piece of equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Put simply, ventilators exist to help patients who can’t breathe, breathe. The novel coronavirus’ attack on the respiratory system brought ventilators into the spotlight, forcing the U.S. to turn to its strategic national stockpile as manufacturers scrambled to scale-up production in short order.
While some of the major manufacturers pump out machines and fulfill recently awarded government contracts, researchers at universities and laboratories have entered the ring with alternative ventilators falling under FDA emergency use authorization (EUA) guidelines. However, while useful in a time of need, the alternative machines that cover mechanical ventilation struggle to scratch the surface of capabilities attributable to the in-demand ICU ventilators.
Univers…