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Description
Patients with COVID-19 in serious or critical condition often require assisted breathing via ventilator. As the number of patients in need of ventilators grows (exponentially in many densely populated regions), there are not adequate numbers of ventilators to support the high number of patients.
This is an EXPERIMENTAL splitter for 22m tubing to allow two patients to share a single ventilator. After printing/testing multiple versions of other splitter designs (see below) we decided to build a new splitter that:
- Has uniformly thicker walls.
- Has shorter branches (less likely to break).
- Is much faster to print.
- Doesn't require supports or rafts.
- Can be scaled to handle basic low-temp sterilization (use 101-102% for PLA).
- Released as Public Domain with all design files included for further modifications.
As with other similar efforts, THIS IS UNCERTIFIED, HIGHLY EXPERIMENTAL, and UNTESTED ON HUMANS. As such, any potential use scenario would also require legal waivers to use uncertified/untested non-medical devices and significant additional patient monitoring by medical professionals and certified diagnostic equipment to reduce the risk of serious consequences in the event that the device fails to operate as intended by doctors. Use at your own risk. We take no responsibility for the safety of this device/design.
These parts have been test-fit on anesthesia machines with ventilator capabilities and standard 22mm ventilator tubing/circuit connectors. The parts should be able to pass the system's automated "leak test" directly off the printer with no post-processing.
The general theory of using a splitter to ventilate multiple patients is nicely spelled out in COVID-19 How to Use One Ventilator to Save Multiple Lives and A Single Ventilator for Multiple Simulated Patients to Meet Disaster Surge.
Thanks to these projects for informing/sharing/catalyzing design and discussion to yield a usable printable splitter.