Toyota Kenya has developed the “Bridge Mechanical Ventilator” as an emergency use resuscitator system to support patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure.
The Bridge Mechanical Ventilator has been made from locally sourced components which can be easily replicated to avert the Covid-19 pandemic. the ventilator is designed to enable rapid large-scale development and deployment.
Toyota Kenya Managing Director, Arvinder Reel said that. The firm had taken up the call by President Uhuru Kenyatta for local companies to come up with easy to deploy solutions. In the battle to contain the spread of the coronavirus. “ COVID-19 required extraordinary measures including the provision of mechanical ventilator support to keep pace with clinical need at our healthcare facilities.”
How it works
The ventilator comes in four parts that make use of an Ambu bag. It is used for emergencies when a ventilator is not available. For example, in the event, a doctor or a medical practitioner squeezes the bag by hand to push air into the lungs of the patient. E-Vent uses this Ambu bag and squeezes it with the help of a paddle activated by cam discs attached to a mechanical motor.
The ventilatory support needs of a COVID-19 patient range from simple BIPAP(bi-level positive airway pressure). For patients that are breathing spontaneously to mandatory ventilation in either a pressure-support or volume control mode.
Additionally, these patients are very likely to require inspired oxygen concentrations (FiO2). Which is in excess of 21 per cent found in room air.
When in operation, the bridge mechanical ventilator indicates to the operator; the current settings that could include inspiratory pressure, tidal volume estimate, frequency; and the current delivery, for instance, inspiratory pressure or respiratory rate.