Mechanical Ventilators

As COVID-19 becomes a global pandemic, we see a dramatic rise in the demand for ventilators. In severe cases of the coronavirus, the virus causes damage to the lungs which triggers an immune response by the body: the blood vessels inside the lungs are expanded to allow more immune cells to enter. However, this can also cause fluid to enter the lungs, making it difficult for a patient to breathe. To combat this, mechanical ventilators are used to help supply the lungs with oxygen when a patient’s lungs can no longer function. Ventilators will provide oxygen to the body while it fights off the virus.¹

We took a look at some patents disclosing mechanical ventilators and the components used in their operation:

U.S. Patent No. 9,283,339

Life support and monitoring apparatus with malfunction correction guidance

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Zoll Medical, a Chelmsford-based defibrillator maker, is shifting its focus on its ventilator production to provide portable ventilators to hospitals in need fighting the coronavirus.² Zoll Medical Corp has a patent for a ventilator module that continually monitors a mechanical ventilator for faults that may occur and seeks the appropriate steps to ensure continuance life support and physiological monitoring.

U.S. Patent No. 9,027,552

Ventilator-initiated prompt or setting regarding detection of asynchrony during ventilation

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Medtronic recently made public all the schematics and software required to build a portable mechanical ventilator and authorized anyone to use them for free to manufacture the lifesaving devices for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. The model whose specs were published is the Puritan Bennett 560, a popular portable respirator that Ireland-domiciled Covidien launched in 2010, a few years before Medtronic merged with it.³ A patent of Covidien describes ventilator-implemented methods of detecting a possible ventilator asynchrony before it occurs and then issue a smart prompt containing a recommendation for an operator to prevent the possible ventilator asynchrony.

U.S. Patent No. 8,726,902

System and method for smart delivery of backup breaths

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General Electric has joined the fight against the coronavirus by boosting its production of mechanical ventilators and other medical equipment.⁴ A patent of General Electric describes a smart delivery circuit for mechanical ventilators used to control delivery of air during changes in breathing rates and can differentiate changes such as slowing down, speeding up or temporarily pause in breathing. This prevents uncomfortable asynchronous breathing for patients.

U.S. Patent No. 10,384,030

Medical components with microstructures for humidification and condensate management

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Demand for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare’s mechanical ventilator humidifiers has surged due to the coronavirus crisis. In response, the New Zealand based company has ramped up production in its production plants in New Zealand and Mexico.⁵ A patent of Fisher & Paykel Healthcare describes a medical circuit with microstructures for humidification and condensate management of air used in ventilators.

U.S. Patent No. 10,576,237

Active exhalation valve

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General Motors Co. has partnered with Ventec Life Systems in order to make mechanical ventilators for the Health and Human Services Department of the US government to add to the national stockpile in response to the coronavirus epidemic. [6] A patent of Ventec Life Systems describes an active exhalation valve for use with a mechanical ventilator to control flow of patient exhaled gases for cases when a patient needs to have their lungs or airways cleared of secretions without having to completely remove the ventilator.

Related articles

Coronavirus Patent Landscape Report

Electronic Health Records Newsletter

References

1. 1. “Coronavirus: What are ventilators and why are they important?,” BBC News, 7 April 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52036948. [Accessed 15 April 2020].
   2. S. P. Cotter, “Chelmsford-based ventilator company Zoll ramping up production to battle coronavirus,” SEAN PHILIP COTTER, 22 March 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/03/22/coronavirus-has-chelmsford-ventilator-company-ramping-up-production/. [Accessed 15 April 2020].
   3. C. Renauer, “Medtronic Makes Plans for a Ventilator Open-Source,” Nasdaq, 30 March 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/medtronic-makes-plans-for-a-ventilator-open-source-2020-03-30. [Accessed 16 April 2020].
   4. S. V. Voorhis, “General Electric Boosts Production of Ventilators, Medical Equipment,” The Street, 19 March 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.thestreet.com/investing/general-electric-ventilators-coronavirus. [Accessed 16 April 2020].
   5. S. Evans, “Demand surge for Fisher & Paykel’s respiratory devices,” Financial Review, 17 March 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.afr.com/companies/healthcare-and-fitness/fisher-and-paykel-healthcare-respiratory-devices-demand-surge-20200317-p54as9. [Accessed 15 April 2020].
   6. D. Welch, “GM Lands U.S. Ventilator Contract Worth Almost $500 Million,” Bloomberg, 8 April 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-08/gm-secures-almost-500-million-u-s-contract-to-make-ventilators. [Accessed 15 April 2020].