COVID-19 Emergency Ventilator

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Imperial’s experts in medical device design (bioengineering) – and a clinician treating infected patients – have designed an emergency ventilator that can be built to meet MHRA and FDA requirements using generic parts.  JAMVENT provides a simple, low-cost solution to ventilator shortages worldwide, particularly for health services in developing countries. Plus the robust design also makes it suitable for long term use beyond current COVID-19 needs.

The design document for the JAMVENT ventilator can be requested by those wishing to develop ventilators for their local healthcare providers and includes a list of parts and a software spec.

We welcome enquiries from health organisations, manufacturers and donors interested in working with us to take JAMVENT from design to manufacture.

 

Design benefits

  • Long term use – not specific to the COVID-19 crisis
  • Easy to manufacture from low cost components (estimated at around £1,500 in the UK)
  • Does not require specific pressure transducers or solenoids
  • Parts can be sourced from various manufacturers – avoiding supply-chain bottlenecks
  • No specialist or medical supply chain components – and no balloons
  • Simple electronics
  • Doesn’t require gas to drive it – unlike some others – which is critical where gas supply is limited.
  • Employs fluid mechanical design principles

 

Ventilator design meets clinicians needs

  • PEEP controllable electronically
  • Pressure Regulated Volume Control (PRVC) mode
  • Supports spontaneous breath
  • Maintains PEEP during suctioning

Performance evidence

Evidence that the JAMVENT prototype can perform to MHRA and ISO 80601 tests can be downloaded here.

It also highlights PRVC and spontaneous mode performance and how it can maintain PEEP during suctioning – critical functions of ICU ventilators for COVID-19 patients.

 

JAMVENT ventilator in action – click to view a video

 

Ventilator system

 


Creators of the emergency ventilator design

  • Project and Technical Lead – Dr Joseph Sherwood – RAEng Research Fellow, Department of Bioengineering. Research areas include biofluid mechanics, flow measurement/control, device design for research.
  • Clinical Lead – Dr. Jakob Mathiszig-Lee – Honorary Research Fellow and Senior Anaesthetic Registrar at the Royal Brompton Hospital. Department of Surgery and Cancer.
  • Project Manager – Prof James Moore – The Bagrit Chair in Medical Device Design, Department of Bioengineering. Research areas include biofluid mechanics, cardiovascular device design, device translation.
  • Co-Technical Lead – Dr Michael Madekurozwa, Department of Bioengineering. Research areas include experimental biofluid dynamics, design and implementation of tools, hardware and software for use in research.

Related Insights

Do bots spread fake news?

Do bots spread fake news?

If bots aren’t responsible for spreading fake news, could automated systems form part of the solution, helping to identify false stories and check their spread? read more

Imperial’s COVID-19 vaccine

Imperial’s COVID-19 vaccine

As the first trials of Imperial’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate got underway in June, the team leading this pioneering work talk though the science of the vaccine and how they will find out whether it protects people from the disease. read more

Robotic revolution

Robotic revolution

Robots are already used to pick and pack online deliveries, vacuum our homes, and to enable surgeons to carry out life-saving operations. In the coming decades, robots have the potential to further enhance human capabilities, providing better care, more efficient transport, and tackling mundane tasks. read more

Related case studies

Virtual worlds for real-life problems

Virtual worlds for real-life problems

Our consultants shared their expertise in new media applications in healthcare to help introduce the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center chemotherapy clinic staff and patients to a virtual world equivalent using the open source Second Life application. read more

Reducing carbon footprint of plastic bottle

Reducing carbon footprint of plastic bottle

Our consultants shared their expertise in life cycle analysis to compare the carbon footprints generated by the The Coca-Cola Company’s new PlantBottle™ versus their previous PET plastic bottle. read more

DISPERSE: Making sense of sound waves

DISPERSE: Making sense of sound waves

Disperse is an interactive software package for studying guided sound waves in a wide range of structures and components. Its principal applications are the exploitation of guided waves for non destructive evaluation across all industries including aerospace, power generation, and oil and gas. read more

Latest news

Webinar: What will our recovery look like?

Webinar: What will our recovery look like?

23 July 2020 – 12:00 – 13:00 Hear Professor Jonathan Haskel, renowned British economist & Bank of England Monetary Policy committee Member, talk through the economic modelling of the initial recession and the lessons for the recovery. read more

Prof David Nethercot appointed as assessor to assist Grenfell Tower Inquiry Chairman

Prof David Nethercot appointed as assessor to assist Grenfell Tower Inquiry Chairman

David Nethercot, Emeritus Professor of Civil Engineering, has been appointed by the Chairman of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry to assist him in considering technical issues relating to the design and construction of the building and its refurbishment. read more

European debt default: a new early warning system is announced

European debt default: a new early warning system is announced

Capco, a global business and technology consultancy dedicated solely to the financial services industry, has today unveiled a new early warning system for European debt default, resulting from a project facilitated by Imperial Consultants. read more