NVT together with Covid19CZ platform are responsible for development of an emergency mechanical lung ventilator CoroVent for patients with respiratory failure due to Covid-19 disease (corona virus). The project is required by the Czech government. Information about the project are published at corovent.cz.

The current status and history of the project:

April 26, 2020

All labels, manuals and touch panel readouts can be delivered in any language – currently Czech and English versions. We can also deliver versions with medical gas tube connectors specific to each country, along with the proper electric plug for local outlets.



April 24, 2020

Today’s report on national Czech TV and an article about the production in MICo (Moravian Industrial Company) .



April 22, 2020

This week was very intense. We passed all the tests at the Electrotechnical Testing Institute and we have got orders for the first few thousand CoroVent ventilators.





April 14, 2020

Today our researchers (Ing. Petr Kudrna, Ph.D. and Ing. Václav Ort from the Department of Biomedical Technology) handed over the first three series-produced CoroVent lung ventilators to the Electrotechnical Testing Institute for standard safety testing. The UN and other partners have shown interest in the CoroVent lung ventilator.



April 6-13, 2020

The Rector of CTU (doc. RNDr. Vojtěch Petráček, CSc.), project manager and inventor prof. Ing. Karel Roubík, Ph.D., and inventor Ing. Václav Ort have signed a temporary license, which allows to offer the whole concept as open source, respectively open hardware. This means that we will provide all documentation, drawings and codes to similarly composed teams of engineers, doctors and government representatives in each country, so that any company in the world with sufficient knowledge of pneumatics and electronics will be able to start production very quickly. CoroVent principles are provided free of charge to the world during the coronavirus crisis!

April 1-5, 2020

We faced several other problems but the final design was completed. To ensure maximum security, we had to make a few more changes like alarm system optimization or adding a new manometer. Anesthetists are testing the correct functionality.

March 29-31, 2020

We were forced to replace several components to ensure the greatest safety for the patient. We had to make some changes and innovations in our Alarm system. We are reading the technical/safety/quality standards and completing the protocols to meet all the requirements for successful testing at The Electrotechnical Testing Institute.

March 28, 2020

We are working on CoroVent production logistics. The legislative team is working on risk analysis. We are proposing a way of testing each manufactured CoroVent ventilator.

March 27, 2020

In just 18 hours, 12.5 million Czech crowns were collected in the assemblage, thank you for your support! Our legislative team is working on all the essential documents for The Electrotechnical Testing Institute (manual, technical documentation or agreement with technical/safety/quality standards).

March 26, 2020

All the proposed solutions and selected parts have been tested. We are testing the first prototypes on the table, very soon the testing of the final prototypes, including electronics and boxing, will begin. The assemblage was launched on the first 100 corovent ventilators on the website donio.cz/CoroVent.



March 25, 2020

In order to accelerate the development of new CoroVent ventilator, we started to use air connection between our lab at FBMI CVUT Kladno (LKKL) and companies of Covid19CZ platform assuring the CoroVent manufacturing. Majority of the important components have been delivered. An interview for Czech Radio – Radiožurnál was published.



Fast delivery using air connection.

March 24, 2020

The algorithm for evaluating tidal volumes, flows, Pmax and PEEP has been implemented in the software. Air transport of the important components throughout the Czech Republic to test the correct function. Other business meetings.

March 23, 2020

The first 3D visualisation of the entire ventilator by MICO Robotic s.r.o. has been made. The corovent.cz website has been launched. 3D printing of some specific components by Prusa3D and testing of their functionality. A control unit was created with the whole software for the ventilator control system.



Touch screen for the ventilator control system.

March 22, 2020

A final list of all the components for the first prototype construction was completed. We started to demand the components from suppliers with an emphasis on sufficient quantities. After several consultation with the doctors, a layout of the patient circuit of the ventilator was created. Other Covid-19CZ initiative business meetings (10-20 members).

March 21, 2020

Optimization of the inspiratory system completed. Description of individual components created and provided to the cooperating manufacturers. Consultations in selecting the proper components. Second business meeting (21 members).

March 20, 2020

A final design of the expiratory valve was completed. A complete pneumatic system was finished and its functionality was demonstrated on a mechanical test lung. Definition of other functionalities: control system, driving signals, screen, alarms, etc. Companies contacted under Covid-19CZ initiative, the first business meeting conducted.

March 19, 2020

Expiratory valve design. Several concepts were proposed and analyzed.

March 18, 2020

Karel was woken up by a phone call by Andrej Babiš, the premier :-). The project was approved; the premier of the Czech Republic granted his support to the project and cooperation in obtaining an approval from SUKL (the Czech “FDA-like” organization) once the ventilator is ready. Experimental work stated.

Vašek Ort starting the design of CoronaVent in one of our labs.

March 17, 2020

Several concepts of the ventilator structure were proposed and analyzed. The main concept was selected.

March 16, 2020

The project proposal was submitted to the Czech ministry of Health and the Czech Government. Medical requirements were summarized and discussed.

March 15, 2020

The idea of creating an emergency ventilator was adopted. The preliminary team of experts was created. The first version of the project description was written.