Engineers and medical researchers from UC Berkeley and UCSF worked to create a potential solution to ventilator shortages. The collective of engineers and medical researchers have named the team the COVID-19 Ventilator Rapid Response Team, and they are looking at ways to modify sleep apnea machines to act as ventilators, to intubate patients with the virus.
Typically, sleep apnea machines are not used to continuously supply oxygen, however with the proper modifications, the device can be used for intubation. The FDA has also indicated that healthcare facilities could look at breathing devices to be used as ventilators.
The organization will now be looking for donations of sleep apnea machines, which could be modified to help patients at a later date.
Adapted Ventilator Efforts
Engineers and Medical Researchers are Making Unconventional Ventilators
Trend Themes
1. Adapted Ventilator Devices - The trend of modifying sleep apnea machines for use as ventilators presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in medical device manufacturing and healthcare delivery.
2. Rapid Response Teams - The rise of COVID-19 response teams presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in emergency response procedures and protocols across industries.
3. Alternative Medical Devices - The trend of using unconventional medical devices as a response to COVID-19 presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in medical research and development.
Industry Implications
1. Medical Device Manufacturing - The adaptation of sleep apnea machines for use as ventilators presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in medical device manufacturing.
2. Healthcare Delivery - The use of alternative medical devices to combat COVID-19 presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in healthcare delivery and treatment protocols.
3. Emergency Response - The creation of rapid response teams to combat COVID-19 presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in emergency response procedures in various industries such as healthcare, logistics, and transportation.