Ventilator built from snorkel mask and 3D printed part

Original title is &quot;Emergency mask for hospital ventilators&quot;. The title on the post is misleading.<p>A ventilator is a machine with electronics, moving parts, and sensors that pushes air into people&#x27;s lungs and pulls it back out. This is an improvised replacement for one of the less- or non-reusable accessories in short supply, the mask that goes on the patient.

I’m having trouble seeing why this couldn’t be a widespread solution. It uses the same supply lines; the mask is designed to maintain a seal and support normal breathing.<p>What prevents this from being an option when the alternative is, I dunno, death?<p>Is this actually a “ventilator”? Or is it just a mask and it’s the rest of the air delivery system that’s in short supply? Can anyone point to a good basic intro to the “design a ventilator” problem?

Just signed up as a local maker, it is nice that they are trying to connect hospitals with manufacturing capabilities [1].<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;docs.google.com&#x2F;forms&#x2F;d&#x2F;e&#x2F;1FAIpQLSdc0aa34YSqm6hPQWRL9OT4bFaowXSlvObUVr9kZurn4MZnoQ&#x2F;viewform" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;docs.google.com&#x2F;forms&#x2F;d&#x2F;e&#x2F;1FAIpQLSdc0aa34YSqm6hPQWRL...</a>

Relatedly, some engineering students from Tunisia created 3D printed protective masks and started supplying hospitals as they have a shortage of those. The prototype is open source : <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;FAB619&#x2F;Protection-Mask--COVID-19" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;FAB619&#x2F;Protection-Mask--COVID-19</a>

I&#x27;m not a ventilator specialist, but this is gaining some traction and I fail to understand how it really helps. Is the ventilator shortage just a mask shortage ? Isn&#x27;t there a quite complicated machine plugged to the mask ? With complex valves and a motor and pressure sensors and alarms and whatever ?<p>Again, I don&#x27;t know what I&#x27;m talking about.

The panic of where we will get the ventilators from does not have to be the sole focus. Not every patient will need a million dollar ventilator.<p>If someone is self isolated with the disease then they may need a lower technology solution such as a dehumidifier. In that way they can avoid the secondary bacterial infections that are the real killer. They can recover in a room that won&#x27;t be growing mould because it is damp from their breathing.<p>A humble dehumidifier could put someone on the road to recovery before it gets to the ventilator stage in a northern climate where damp is a problem.

Article regarding inventors in the NYTimes: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nytimes.com&#x2F;2020&#x2F;03&#x2F;22&#x2F;opinion&#x2F;ventilators-coronavirus-italy.html" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nytimes.com&#x2F;2020&#x2F;03&#x2F;22&#x2F;opinion&#x2F;ventilators-coron...</a>

Some interesting hacks appearing i.e. modifying a single ventilator to support two or even more people.

Really hope that our societies can fund some research and development to bring elasticity to health care capacity. This won&#x27;t be the last time we as humans will need it, and it will help if some smart people work on this instead of ad click optimization..

The headline is misleading, this isn&#x27;t a ventilator, this is an emergency mask. Great project though!

It doesnt help people who need intubation as many will with the virus.