Main description:

The surge in COVID-19 cases leading to hospitalizations around the world quickly depleted hospital resources and reserves, forcing physicians to make extremely difficult life-or-death decisions on ventilator allocation between patients. Leaders in academia and industry have developed numerous ventilator support systems using both consumer- and industry-grade hardware to sustain life and to provide intermediate respiratory relief for hospitalized patients. This book is the first of its kind to discuss the respiratory pathophysiology underlying COVID-19, explain ventilator mechanics, provide and evaluate a repository of innovative ventilator support devices conceived amid the pandemic, and explain both hardware and software components necessary to develop an inexpensive ventilator support device. This book serves both as a historical record of the collaborative and innovative response to the anticipated ventilator shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic and as a guide for physicians, engineers, and DIY'ers interested in developing inexpensive transitory ventilator support devices.

Contents:

History of ventilator devices.- Ventilator splitters: requirements and feasibility.- SARS CoV-2 transmission and innovative protective barriers.- What is a bridge ventilator and why is it needed?.- Fundamental requirements for a bridge ventilator.- Categorization for emergency ventilators amid COVID-19 pandemic.- Mechanics of resuscitation bag.- How to compress a bag: an overview of mechanical and pneumatic methods.- Choosing the right motor: considerations and concerns.- Re-purposing positive airway pressure machines (CPAP and BiPAP) for ventilators.- The role of non-invasive ventilation to treat COVID-19 induced lung disease.- Categorization of non-invasive ventilators amid the COVID-19 pandemic.- An appraisal of FDA-approved emergency ventilator designs.- DIY: A detailed guide to build your own bridge ventilator.- Regulatory considerations for ventilator production.- Post-regulatory concerns: liability, risk mitigation, and more.