Assembly instructions for a DIY Ventilator prototype.

This could be useful in an Avian Flu pandemic.

Constructed with commonly available components.



Many of us modify, hack, re-purpose, and DIY to save money, build something unique, create art, or show the world that there is a better way to use some device. And sometimes, just because it's cool. This is something different. It is a ventilator, and ventilators are meant to save lives. This project is called the Pandemic Ventilator, because it is meant to be used as a ventilator of last resort during a possible avian (bird) flu pandemic.



Many health authorities are preparing for the possibility of a flu pandemic in the next few years.

If a pandemic occurs that is related to the type of virus that is currently spreading in birds, they fear that it may be as bad or possibly worse than the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. It is expected that the number of people that require treatment with ventilators may be much greater than the current number of ventilators in existence. If a pandemic were to strike, the hospitals could not just go out and buy all the ventilators they need, because there would not be enough parts or manufacturing capability. Many governments already have plans for triage and rationing programs that will determine who gets access to the limited number of ventilators and who will be left to die. When I first heard about this, I thought, "This is not good enough, if someone I know or love needs a ventilator, I would get one, I would build one myself if I had to". Thus the idea was born.



The earliest ventilators of the 1950s were primitive devices with even more primitive control and sensor systems, but they worked, and they saved many lives. Some of the early ones were built in workshops. This ventilator has a very primitive and basic design, but then it does benefit from a modern electronic control system. This is a basic ventilator design using materials that would still be readily available (or re-purposed) if a pandemic were to occur. It uses wood, tape, plastic bags, threaded pipe, solenoid valves, security system magnetic switches, and a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). The prototype shown does not yet incorporate all of the proposed design features and the control program still needs some work to make it more stable and failsafe but it does function, as you can see from the video.



The Pandemic Ventilator Project is an open source hardware project. If you build your own development unit, please share your ideas, and experience at www.panvent.blogspot.com .



The information in this instructable is presented as is for development and investigative purposes only. The prototypes presented are not fully functional devices and have had no safety testing done. A ventilator is a potentially hazardous device and should only be operated by a trained and certified respiratory therapist. Any usage guidelines will be published for emergency use only, and only when a fully functional and validated unit has been completed. Anyone using this information to build or use a device agrees to waive any and all liability.



The Pandemic Ventilator Project

