Open-Source Release Allows Manufacturers Worldwide to Produce the UMN & #039;s Low-Cost Ventilator

There has been no shortage of innovation and collaboration across the industry to provide critical medical solutions in response to the coronavirus pandemic, but developing a much-needed device is only half the battle. To truly make an impact, innovators need to make their technology available to as many patients as possible. With that end-goal in mind, some organizations are open-sourcing their designs in an effort to ramp up production and distribution. The latest example of this trend comes out of the University of Minnesota (UMN) Bakken Medical Device Center. In early April, MD+DI reported that Boston Scientific was working with the UMN Bakken Medical Device Center and other industry collaborators to bring a ventilator alternative to market. The machine, which was still under development at that time, was described as a "one-armed robot" designed to pump an Ambu bag, replacing the need for manual respiration in emergency settings. Medtronic and UnitedHealth Group also contributed to the project. FDA issued an emergency use authorization for the device, dubbed the Coventor, on April 14. Now, the UMN has made the manufacturing specifications freely available through an open-source release, allowing companies worldwide to manufacture and supply the Coventor in response to the ongoing pandemic. According to a UMN news article, making the Coventor design freely available fulfills the original aim of the project. &acir...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: COVID-19 Contract Manufacturing Source Type: news