Turn a snorkeling mask into a respiratory mask for assisted ventilation [video]
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Here's a DIY project by Shen Ye:
If not, then at a certain point, it will make sense to use ventilators which have a 3% chance of killing the patient. Its not as if these are being sold to people under the guise of being well-certified medical devices.
> We clarify that the patent will remain free to use, because it is in our intention that all hospitals in need could use it if necessary.
> We clarify that our initiative is totally non-profit, we will not obtain any royalties on the idea of the link, nor on the sales of Decathlon masks.
(Is this a difference between the US and EU patent systems?)
The winning filer’s claim still has to meet the other requirements for a patent, including novelty and non-obviuousness.
I don't know how many CPAP machines there are in the US but I know three people who each have one.
CPAP is a good start for any patient that has a spontaneous inspirtory drive and acceptable work of breathing.
The problem for the COVID patients is more so oxygenation then ventilation (this is a technical complication of the disease were studies have shown that focusing on O2 with an elevated CO2 is better in the long run then trying to ventilate the lung to normal CO2 levels as the volume of air needed to do this effectively can do more damage to the lung).
CPAP helps O2 absorbtion in the lungs by maintaining a generally elevated pressure that pushes O2 into the alveolar sacs for perfusion without requiring a concentration of O2 that might create a fibrotic lung.
If the patient passes a certain threshold of respiratory distress and work of breathing they will need to be intubated to carry on the same O2/Co2 strategy above to protect the lung from further damage.
After intubation is when a real ventilator will be needed. Ventilators can be very simple so long as people are aware the patient will be out like fashion so the ventilator can do its thing and medical staff monitor the patients vital systems. This is not always ideal as voluntary spontaneous movement of the patient can help relieve some of the neuro and physiological lung issues they are experiencing.
Ideally everything done for the patient as soon as they hit the ward is to keep them off a ventilator for their own and others best outcomes.
Can a medical practitioner comment on the nature of the opportunity here?
Would a 'mask' be more practical for unconscious patients?
Initial info from the intensivists (ICU docs) from Kirkland Washington suggest that time should not be wasted with CPAP or BiPAP. These measures only postpone the inevitable in patients with COVID-19.
Also a good percent of medical personnel were becoming infected from the Italian data with SARS-CoV2 (10-15%). Measures like BiPAP or CPAP do can exposure others in the room, especially with the rapid progression of this disease and the likely need to intubate the patients and ventilate them.
That being said this is a great accomplishment and the variety of sizes these masks come in would be helpful especially in the pediatric population. I now have to fire up my 3D printer.