NERD (New Era Research and Development) Center is finding a way to make oxygen ventilators to help combat the COVID-19 situation in the country. NERD is a research center for university students, graduates and hobbyists to develop their concepts into prototypes. The center provides prototyping services for any hardware projects composed of mechanical engineering, electrical and computer science – mechatronics projects and specializes in designing and developing robot operating systems.
The company develops research content on aeronautics, mechatronics, ICT, artificial intelligence, block chain technology, precision agriculture, learning management systems and biomedical tools. “Our aim is to catalyze the science and technology growth in Ethiopia by bridging the gap on innovators, industry and researchers,” said the CEO of New Era Research and Development Center, Ato Minas Getu. He added “We aspire to be contributors and innovators as Ethiopian engineers to the international R.O.S (Robot Operating System) community”.
Staffers began a project to help produce easily fabricated oxygen ventilators which can be used by the Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) or Critical Care Unit (CCU) in volume in a short period of time.
In the most severe cases, the coronavirus damages healthy tissue in the lungs, making it hard for them to deliver oxygen to the blood. Pneumonia can develop, along with a more severe and potentially deadly condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome, which can damage other organs.To prevent this, mechanical ventilators feed oxygen into the lungs of patients with severe respiratory problems through a tube inserted down the throat. The ventilator also has a humidifier, which adds heat and moisture to the air to match the patient’s body temperature. Patients with milder symptoms may be put on non-invasive ventilation, using face masks, nasal masks or mouthpieces which allow pressurized air or mixtures of gases to be pushed into the lungs. Additionally, hoods with pressurized oxygen pumped in them via a valve are also commonly used.
NERD has already completed 3 mechanical oxygen ventilator prototypes and are woking on another completely original design for the Ethiopian market. Their team is currently working with hospitals such as Tikur Anbessa and Nordic, and Abet hospital to perfect these prototypes.
The first three prototypes are made using an open source design made by Protofy XYZ (www.oxygen.protofy.xyz), whose designs have been approved by the EU and are already in use there. These designs are made using simple easy to find materials. The first prototype being wood based, the second from foam and the third using stainless steel sheet metal. These prototypes are each powered using windshield wiper motors and pump oxygen using bag valve masks (BVM).
Currently, one of the critical problems that the world is facing in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic is the shortage of mechanical ventilators. To help support NERD so they can continue to innovate and provide solutions for this crisis: