Summary of DIY Arduino open source ventilator
The article discusses Johnny Lee's open-source project converting a low-cost CPAP machine into a basic ventilator as an emergency measure during COVID-19 ventilator shortages. This device, not medically approved, aims to assist breathing by providing target breathing rates and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). It can deliver atmospheric air or 100% oxygen if connected to an O2 tank but lacks precise tidal volume control and other advanced features. The project is intended as a last-resort experimental solution, not a substitute for professional medical equipment.
Parts used in the DIY Arduino open source ventilator:
- Low-cost CPAP blower
- Arduino microcontroller
- Oxygen tank (optional for 100% FiO2)
- Various sensors and control electronics (implied for rate and pressure control)
As the Arduino blog explains “making your own medical equipment isn’t normally advisable” Johnny Lee has published a project two GitHub exploring how to transform a CPAP machine into a ventilator. Although this device “has in no way been evaluated or approved for medical use, but it does provide a starting point for experimentation”.
In the event that COVID-19 hospitalizations exhaust the availability of FDA approved ventilators. This project documents the process of converting a low-cost CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) blower into a rudimentary ventilator that could help with breathing during an acute respiratory attack.
WARNING/DISCLAIMER: Whenever possible, please seek professional medical care with proper equipment setup by trained individuals. Do not use random information you found on the internet. I am not a medical professional, just a random person on the internet.
This rudimentary design could provide a target breathing rate, and a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). It can’t guarantee a specic tidal volume, and can only provide atmospheric FiO2 (21%) or 100% if attached to an O2 tank. It is also lacking in many ways, but it is possible this limited functionality could help when better care is not possible.”
Source: DIY Arduino open source ventilator
