DIY Ventilator project

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#2443479 22-Mar-2020 05:34

I’m surprised no-one has posted a link to this article, published back on the 19th. Confirms F&P aren’t investigating getting into this space, but does talk about other action happening in NZ.

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/03/19/1089022/businesses-ardern-move-fast-on-medical-ventilators

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#2445872 24-Mar-2020 22:54

AvE has been working on a similar project:

NSFW (from home...?)

elpenguino

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#2446050 25-Mar-2020 09:49

Zeon:

I'm not sure if Fisher and Paykel healthcare are geared up for full on ventilators though...? Aren't they mainly CPAP and humidifiers? Do they manufacture these even in NZ?

At this stage my main limitation seems to be around finding 5v relays. I'll hit jaycar tomorrow. Anyone got any other suggestions of shops or things I could scavenge them out of? Ideally looking for solid state but anything will go at the moment. I think 12v relays are easy to find from auto suppliers (and I have some spare) but a Pi/Arduino only has 5v and would prefer not to waste time doing a DC-DC boost converter (unless there is somewhere selling these)?

I have some 5v relays, getting them to you might be a problem unless you are in Wellington - what's your location?

In any case, you can drive 12v relays from a 3.3 volt micro. You would need a separate 12 volt (or whatever) rail applied to the relays at all times and use a transistor to pull current through the coil when activating it.

Most micros can dissipate (sink) more current than they can drive (source) and with this arrangement you keep the relay coil current buffered with the transistor.

Don't forget a diode on each relay coil to snub the back EMF produced when the relay switches off.

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superoman

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#2446496 25-Mar-2020 17:24

F&P healthcare product are produced in NZ, right here in Auckland (they have manufacturing facilities in other countries as well)

My flatmate works there and production is currently running 24hours

They have an exemption to work because their product is deemed essential in Corona virus times

Tracer

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#2447126 26-Mar-2020 13:35

mdf:

AvE has been working on a similar project:

.

NSFW (from home...?)

AvE has been busy, again NSFW language:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqRgISFuE0k

howsitgoing

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#2452622 1-Apr-2020 21:11

Dave/EEVblog has taken a look at various ventilator projects, it's quite interesting

eevBLAB #73 - Medtronics Open Ventilator + Others UPDATE

jolyonjenkins

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#2456763 8-Apr-2020 00:32

You won't be able to drive 5V relays direct from an arduino anyway. Simplest way is with a logic level mosfet and then you can drive your 12V relays easily. I would start with a 12V supply then use a regulator to bring it down to 5V for the arduino

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#2456766 8-Apr-2020 01:33

Technofreak:
Congratulations on your ingenuity.

Are you going into competition with F&P Healthcare?

I bet they are already ramping up production.

I thought the ventilators would be using bottled oxygen rather than compressed air?

F&P Healthcare make humidifiers and associated consumables.

If you are using a ventilator in a hospital there is ample supply of medical gases. Pretty much every bed has a supply.

Handle9

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#2456767 8-Apr-2020 01:39

djtOtago:
Ventilators also warm and humidify the incoming air. And in most cases, mix it with a little extra oxygen to increase the oxygen concentration.

Nah, ventilators don't do that. Humidifiers do. That's what F&P Healthcares core competency is.

Technofreak

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#2456916 8-Apr-2020 09:58

Handle9:

F&P Healthcare make humidifiers and associated consumables.

If you are using a ventilator in a hospital there is ample supply of medical gases. Pretty much every bed has a supply.

Yes, I know that.

My response was to the OP's statement about using an air compressor.

Here's the quote from the first post in this tread.

This apparatus is super simple - the main parts are an air compressor with tank and solenoid valves I scavenged from an old dishwasher.

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#2456927 8-Apr-2020 10:24

Not quite DIY but worth sharing. The Tesla engineers have been working on one during their downtime:

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ezbee

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#2456946 8-Apr-2020 10:45

As to Tesla Ventilator.

When I first heard of it , I had a vision of the unfortunate submarine turned into an Iron Lung.

As Mr Dave/EEVblog pointed out , the ability to get a working product out in time to make a difference for this emergency is a tough question for most of the projects.

Longer term a potential benefit would be ventilator that is equivalent of what Fred Hollows did for cataract treatment in 3rd world.

A ventilator that can be made with minimum resources, especially where sophisticated maintenance is not available.

Those projects would certainly be a gift that keeps on giving.

Hopefully some of these get out the gate for long term use.

More power to all of them.

ezbee

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#2456975 8-Apr-2020 11:24

The Aussie Triple Eight Race Engineers one looks interesting approach.

Though I though I saw a similar one based on a standard hand reparation bladder , in a TV segment, maybe that was their prototype.

If you can take a bunch of standard parts for much of this then that would seem to be an advantage.

Apollo 13 , MacGyvering , plus a few added specialist electronics 3D printing , electronics etc.

Actually you could drive this with compressor , or compressed air circuit rather than mechanical arms .

All the best , Pete,

ezbee

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#2459248 11-Apr-2020 10:29

Another alternative idea is to modernize the iron lung.
Forced positive pressure ventilation actually causes some problems, and patent is tranquilized.
Normally your lungs expanded by muscle the diaphragm are drawing air in a negative pressure.
Iron Lung simulates the same thing
It came up this morning on radio nz kim hill , her regular interview with Dr Chris Smith.

https://newatlas.com/medical/british-engineers-modern-iron-lung-covid-19-ventilator-alternative/

I wonder if you could use flexible materials using air pressure to create rigidity where you need it to do the same thing , something you can fold up.
Probably need a masters in ultrasonic plastic welding to create a Zorb like structure with cells that can be independently inflated and deflated.

Hmm.

frankv

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#2459272 11-Apr-2020 10:54

Something like pilots' G suits, which inflate around the abdomen (and legs, but ignore that part)?

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