development of the critical control systems that protect a patient supported by a ventilator. Said Dr Sabatta, “Ventilators are complex medical devices, and it is more intricate than simply squeezing a bag. Our product includes devices such as pressure sensors, flow sensors, and a number of control algorithms. It can, therefore, be set up to perform more advanced ventilation tasks such as Pressure Support Ventilation (PSV) or Synchronous Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation (SIMV). This is a step up in ventilation support, by being able to assist patients further when they are tiring from being on Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) systems for extended periods of time.” The UJ Process Energy and Environmental Technology Station (UJ-PEETS) is supporting efforts to identify decommissioned ventilators at public and private hospitals to bring out-of- service equipment back online, focusing their efforts on e-waste reduction in a circular economy to support the medical engineering maintenance programmes at hospitals. “Through our repair and maintenance undertaking, this assignment will build on the principles of circularity and create employment opportunities since there are large amounts of equipment that can be repaired and calibrated for reuse, especially beyond our borders in South Africa,” explained Dr Masebinu. “There is no sector more critical at this moment than healthcare, which is why we are proud to play a role in helping to produce and revamp these critical life-saving devices.” The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the skills shortage in facility and technical equipment maintenance at health care facilities, not only in South Africa but on the continent. The UJ-PEETS team is gearing up
UJ creates open- source, affordable VENTILATORS as COVID-19 cases rise
Video link: https://youtu.be/0R_BtDySHg4
A multidisciplinary team of engineers and healthcare
facilities available to enable PPE manufacturing. Reports in late April indicated that South Africa had less than half the number of ventilators needed to deal with peak infections. Public healthcare system had 1 111 operational ventilators, with 2 105 operational in the private healthcare system. The team, led by UJ’s Dr Deon Sabatta and Dr Samson Masebinu, identified several simple, safe and scalable open-source designs that could meet the strict specifications for use with patients if further developed and tested. By building on open-source designs, the team has developed a minimal viable product with elements that can be produced through 3D printing and laser cutting techniques. These designs will support the
practitioners at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has taken a three-pronged approach towards support for critical care technology development in response to the COVID-19 crisis, which is expected to peak between July and September this year in South Africa. Responding to initial reports that between 40%-70% of South Africans could get infected with Covid-19, depending on the national response to the crisis, the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) has been coordinating efforts to further develop open-source ventilators, support repair and maintenance efforts to bring out-of-warranty
equipment into service, and to make rapid prototyping
ALUMNI IMPUMELELO
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