A radically accessible, affordable, and producible ventilator.
In response to the initial explosion in demand for ventilators caused by the global COVID-19 crisis, VentCU was developed as an intermediary manual ventilation device for clinical use. Designed in collaboration with medical professionals and skilled engineers, VentCU is positioned as a radically affordable device able to be assembled with no prior experience and no specialized tools. Constructed entirely from consumer-off-the-shelf parts, available in the hundreds to thousands in a matter of days, hospital technicians and maker enthusiasts alike will be able to construct VentCU with nothing more than an instruction manual, an Allen key, a pair of scissors, and a soldering iron.
The critical demand for ventilators that sparked VentCU’s conception has thankfully subsided since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. However, VentCU continues as an area of research to be used in further development of affordable, easily manufacturable ventilators should another surge for ventilators emerge or for communities already lacking access to proper ventilation devices. As such, VentCU is completely open-source.
Check out our website (https://coda.io/@maker/ventcu) for detailed technical, BOM, and contact information. Also, feel free to share our work on social media!
version 0.1-alphaHow to install the repo in an open terminal window on your VentCU device's Raspberry Pi 3 B+:
cd $HOME
mkdir Workspace
cd Workspace
git clone https://github.com/VentCU/bbwtb.git
An electronics layout and next-generation PCB of the VentCU device is viewable in the electronics directory.
A stable release of the VentCU device main assembly can be found within the mechanics directory. A viewable, online CAD model with complete relationships can viewed at this Onshape link.
A user manual and specification sheet can be found in the stable release directory in the mechanics directory and viewed online at this Google Docs link
CAD renders and real-life pictures of the VentCU device can be viewed in the media directory.
The software repository contains code to run the VentCU device and instructions for installation. See software\README.md for a comprehensive system breakdown.
Newest on top.
09/12/2020: version-0.1-alpha: preliminary alpha release for first public publishing
09/03/2020: version-0.0-alpha: stable alpha for committee demo