This bench study utilized standard hospital equipment for ventilator splitting. Installing a tracheal tube and Hoffman clamp to the existing ventilator can achieve safe tidal volume and airway pressure for both test lungs with low (0.02 l.cmH2O^-1) and high (0.04 l.cmH2O^-1) compliances. However, further clinical studies are recommended before implementing the device on COVID-19 patients.

Ventilator Splitting Proposal #1 for COVID-19

Currently, ventilator splitting lacks regulations and testing. However, due to time-critical demand for ventilators, engineers have proposed various ventilator-split designs.

- Ventilator Splitting Proposal #1

(The numbering does not indicate prioritization)

Smith College

Due to ventilator shortages across the nation, biomedical engineers have been developing more efficient designs for medical ventilators and investigating alternative solutions to deliver oxygen to COVID-19 patients experiencing respiratory failure.

- Ventilator Splitting Design Proposals

- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)


Medical Ventilator Alternatives for COVID-19

Ventilator Splitting Design Proposals for COVID-19

ECMO is a bypass machine which allows the heart and lungs to rest by pumping and oxygenating blood outside the body. This method may be considered for patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 who are unresponsive to medical ventilators. However, there is lack of experience and constructive guidelines for using ECMO for COVID-19 induced ARDS. 

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