COVID-19 pandemic is widely spreading and challenges Health Systems primarily for the unforeseen need for ventilation assistance in severe pneumonia patients.
The worldwide efforts to increase the number of ventilators can be paralleled by the MEV - Multiple Emergency Ventilator system serving 10+ patients as a further defense line. The core of MEV is in an O2 supply at intrinsically safe inspiratory pressure (Ppeak), to prevent barotrauma.
In the basic-MEV, pressure-controlled ventilation is equally delivered to all the assisted patients. Two solutions are given:
- a Bell-Jar System (BJS)with water seal, the CAD design of which is already available;
- a Pressure Blower System (PBS), here at the stage of functional scheme.
A major application of the basic-MEV would be at the admission of severely dyspneic patients to be urgently intubated, ahead of transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU), if delayed by the lack of ICU beds. Individually adaptable Positive End Expiration Pressure (PEEP) is also guaranteed by an intrinsically safe system (gravity sphere shutter). Fluidic modeling and design of control strategy are already available in “Modelica” SW.
Possible enhancements (pressure-control, volume-guaranteed) are given by MEV-plus, which may greatly broaden applications with significant impact in developing Countries missing sufficient ICUs. A further step-up could be a personalized inspired O2 fraction (FiO2) done by a double gas supply system for O2 and air, respectively.
Easy transport, quick montage, flexible layout, and safe operability are guaranteed by MEV modularity and its essential conception. E.g., the O2 pipeline is a modular 2-inch steel pipe acting both for gas transport and mechanical structure.
