One of the main concerns in the fight against COVID-19 is the lack of ventilators for those with the severest of symptoms, and health authorities around the world are trying to find more ventilators to cope with the increasing number of patients.
So it was great to hear that Sandy Gray, Technical Director of Gekko Systems, Australia (MEI Blog 16 March 2015) has brought together the Gekko Systems team’s knowledge of pneumatics, hydraulics, operating systems, mechatronics and control systems with the advice of a number of leading physicians and anaesthetists to design a simple, robust ventilator. Gekko is a world leader in gold processing technology, as well as the design, construction and operation of energy efficient modular plants.
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| Sandy Gray with the prototype ventilator |
Sandy said "when we started, one of our young electrical controllers said, 'you know this is just one of our 'jig' controllers- which is what we've already developed in the past'. So we thought why don't we just adapt that technology to build a ventilator to help people breathe in the case of coronavirus."
Consulting with Ballarat anaesthetist Doug Paxton and a local 3D printing company the portable ventilator came to life. After inspecting the finished model Dr Paxton believes it is extremely promising. "The ventilator has been designed using equipment that is readily available in the commercial/ industrial sector, and given the adaption of its purpose by the design team at Gekko there is a possibility of having a robust machine which would meet the needs of this pandemic in a practical way" he said. "The circuits are easy to use. With little training and information the ventilator can be used effectively for nearly all our patients, taking a load off the clinician and the other ventilators in the system.”
The group have progressed through to a Mark 3 Prototype and the local state government has been approached to assist with funding and approvals. The simple design incorporates high quality control equipment and the UK Government guidelines for Rapidly Manufactured Ventilator System (RMVS) have been used as a base. However the initial units will be kept as simple as possible to ensure rapid deployment is possible.
We will keep you up to date on progress, but I hope that Sandy and Gekko provide inspiration for the many other equipment manufactures around the world. If you can build large sophisticated mineral processing machines, then surely you can turn your hands to relatively simple ventilators.
Great to see they can pivot so easily, a testament to the skill of the team and drive to make something happen.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Parvaz, Lightning Machines, UK
Good for you Sandy and Gekko. If you can do it then so can the big manufacturers. One was asking operators today to consider upgrading their self-aspirated flotation cells with forced-air technology. If they can do this they can certainly work on ventilators.
ReplyDeleteJim Dixon, British Columbia, Canada
News like this gives motivation and inspiration to many in other areas of specialisation on how their knowledge can be used for a great cause in difficult times like this. Though this came from our fraternity, let me salute Sandy and Gekko and others contributing to meet the urgent need of the hour.
ReplyDeleteAll have to come together to fight this unknown danger.
Keep posting Barry.
Kudos to Sandy Gray and Gekko Systems!
ReplyDeleteThe Gekko team were delighted to be advised yesterday that the Victorian government had committed funds to preparing the Gekko ventilator design for manufacturing readiness.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!