Coventor update: Deploying 3,000 emergency ventilator alternative devices

As shelter in place, stay at home orders continues - a few states are slowly dialing up some reopenings - advancements in ventilator developments continue. Here's an update on collaboration that went from concept to production manufacturing in less than 30 days. Each day it seems I receive more news about how quickly manufacturers are able to turn on a dime, retool production lines, and start producing medical products they haven't made before. It's not slow to change as so many think manufacturing can be.

I covered the start of this project at the end of March - watch the video here - and now UnitedHealth Group, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, and the University of Minnesota are getting ready to deploy 3,000 newly invented light ventilators to address the limited stock of critical breathing support equipment in response to COVID-19.

Collaboration went from concept stage to manufacturing in less than 30 days, with the first 500 products ready to ship this week. UnitedHealth Group is working with Medtronic and the University of Minnesota to determine initial destinations, while Boston Scientific is manufacturing and shipping the product.

You can even help support the ventilator development here.

These devices will help address a clinical gap for patients who need a higher level of respiratory support but don’t have immediate access to traditional ventilators when there is a shortage. They will also provide health care workers with an additional tool to care for high volumes of patients who require emergency breathing support.

The University of Minnesota Medical School and Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Center initially conceived the idea of the light ventilator, called the Coventor. Boston Scientific, Medtronic and UnitedHealth Group provided technical, clinical, regulatory and manufacturing expertise to refine how the device works and bring it to market at scale.

The emergency ventilator alternative device uses an electrically powered robotic arm to mechanically compress an off-the-shelf adult resuscitation bag, the sort often used by paramedics to help a patient breathe. This design provides oxygen assistance and enables health care workers to shift from manually operating the resuscitation bag. The device can also be configured with airflow accessories in multiple ways to best accommodate on-the-ground needs at different clinical facilities.