Free blueprints available to manufacturers
By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
A Liverpool-based tech company sprang into action to develop plans for emergency ventilators to help seriously ill patients affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). JMA Wireless, which is known for making 4G and 5G wireless technology, has made the open-source blueprints for the device available on its website, jmawireless.com.
“When all the news hit that we all heard about the shortage of ventilators … I think everybody was very anxious and concerned. We sat down and talked about what we could do to help,” said Dave Jackson, president of transmission line systems at JMA Wireless.
In about 10 days, JMA Wireless had set up PREVAIL NY LLC to design and produce emergency mechanical ventilators as a stopgap for the shortage of traditional ventilators. The name stands for “Pandemic Response Emergency Ventilation Assembled In Liverpool, New York.”
Dr. John Callahan, a physician of internal medicine, consulted with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Syracuse University about the possibility of developing an emergency ventilator. SU connected Callahan with JMA Wireless.
“By Sunday night we had a conversation. By Monday we had a design. By Tuesday we had a prototype,” Jackson said.
Jackson said a couple dozen employees have worked on the ventilator, which uses an FDA-approved manual resuscitator kit readily available in hospitals known as a bag valve mask or Ambu bag.
“The system supports the low tidal volume ventilation strategy for acute respiratory distress syndrome, as used in patients with COVID-19. This device provides control of three key ventilation functions: respiratory rate (breaths per minute), tidal volume (how much air is delivered) and inspiratory/expiratory (inhale to exhale) ratio. The device is compatible with components that retain humidification and offer HEPA filtration,” read a press release from JMA Wireless.
The device costs less than $500 to manufacture. JMA Wireless is ready to manufacture the ventilator in New York state as well as at its facility in Bologna, Italy. JMA is working with Italian physicians to meet the need for emergency ventilators there, too.
Jackson said the impact of COVID-19 in Italy hit close to home for JMA’s team in Bologna.
“I think that made this a little more personal to us trying to look for solutions,” he said. “It’s concerning for everyone. You can sit and wait or you can try to see what you can do to help.”
While JMA Wireless is new to the medical manufacturing game, Jackson said the principles of engineering are basically the same.
“It’s been moving at such a fast pace, I haven’t even had time to think about [the differences]. In the 4G/5G field we work in we use all the same engineering disciplines and materials so for us it was just another engineered device,” he said.
JMA Wireless has applied to the FDA for an emergency use authorization.
“We’ve done our initial submittal and we’ve done some preclinical testing, and those results will be formulated and sent onto them as well,” Jackson said.
Manufacturers can download the blueprints for the device for free. Jackson said the device requires simple sheet metal work, assembly and soldering.
“It wouldn’t take a fancy facility to start manufacturing these,” he said.
Looking beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, Jackson said JMA’s ventilator could have applications in lower-income countries with limited access to medical supplies and equipment.
“We felt it was important to make it open-source because I do believe it could have use in other regions for various respiratory issues,” he said. “A lot of people have concepts out there but I’ve yet to see another one that is production-ready with all production concept drawings available.”
Jackson praised his team for their work on the emergency ventilator.
“Due to the nature of the problem were trying to solve the passion and the energy was very high. It was a very focused team they blew me away with their outcome,” he said. “I think it’s just a sign of the capability of Central New York. I’ve always been impressed by the caliber of talent in this area so I’m not surprised at all that this is a Central New York development.”