‘JamVent’ affordable emergency ventilator prototype developed

A team of bioengineers and medics led by Dr Jakob Mathiszig-Lee at Imperial College London have developed an affordable yet very effective emergency ventilator to help patients with Covid-19 and be a potential answer to the global shortage of ventilators. The design itself is freely available for download.

Under test conditions the prototype has proven its ability to perform to MHRA specifications and to execute the critical functions of ICU ventilators for COVID-19 patients. UK-based manufacturers RPD and TestWorks amongst others are collaborating with the Imperial College team to have assembly-line prototypes ready in the first half of May, and applications will be made to the FDA and MHRA etc. for approval for use in clinical settings.

Dr Mathiszig-Lee said: “I followed the outbreak closely as it grew in Wuhan and then Lombardy. Many of my colleagues had friends or family working in the region and listening to their stories I knew there would be a global need for ventilators and reached out to colleagues in the Department of Bioengineering. Working in intensive care, treating these patients, I know first-hand how difficult they can be to ventilate, and it’s become increasingly clear to me that simple bag squeezers just aren’t up to what’s needed. The progress we’ve made is outstanding and we’re meeting every standard we’ve tested against.”