A team of engineers and medics from Oxford University and Kings College London, ‘OxVent’, has been shortlisted by the UK Government to go ahead and test their ventilator project for safety.
The project is required to pass the MHRA safety tests.
If it passes, it will be accelerated into production with Smith and Nephew – medical manufacturing company, based in Hull.
The ventilator project and approval by the UK Government comes at a time where due to the nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, ventilators are forecasted to be in short supply.
After safety approval, the next stage will be to enter rapid production to then be deployed through the NHS.
Oxford Professors Andrew Farmery, Mark Thompson, Tim Denison, Paul Goulart and Alfonso Castrejon-Pita and DPhil student Rob Staruch alongside Kings College London’s Professor Sebastien Ourselin and Dr Federico Formenti are leading the project.
The team have ‘defined a simple, safe and scalable design’ which falls within parameters for use with patients.
The design incorporates elements that can be produced through 3D printing combined with off-the-shelf components.
Professor Mark Thompson, says:
“In less than two weeks the students, researchers and academics driving this project have brainstormed a prototype, developed into a highly-structured efficient and effective team and won Government backing.”
“Collaboration is in our DNA and I am so proud of the team and the amazing support from our universities.”
Dr Federico Formenti of King’s College London, says:
“We are a group of academic engineers and anaesthetists from King’s College London and the University of Oxford and are honoured to be shortlisted by the UK Government in our endeavour to help strengthen the NHS in the coming weeks.”
“OxVent’s aim is to maximise impact in the UK, and reach beyond UK borders too.”
“We have been overwhelmed with generous offers and messages of support from companies and individuals across the UK and beyond.”
