Kosovo Company Manufactures 3D Ventilator to Fight COVID-19
Responding to the worldwide need for more ventilators to assist the fight against COVID-19, a Kosovo-based company has come up with a low-cost, open-source ventilator prototype that uses 3D printing technology.
Arianit Zabergja, co-founder of Formon, told BIRN that over the last 10 days the company had redirected all its resources towards developing the ventilator, using 3D printers from its own stock. Called VentCore, more than half of its parts are 3D printable parts.
A 3D printer essentially works by extruding molten plastic through a nozzle that it moves around under computer control. It prints one layer, waits for it to dry, then prints the next layer on top.
As the company points out, the Ventcore "is not meant to replace proper medical devices, it is an emergency device when all other options are depleted. It is to be used only under medical doctors supervision."
Formon specializes in designing and manufacturing 3D printers. Rron Cena, another co-founder, told BIRN that the VentCore includes a mechanical system of BVM bags - the medicinal bags doctors use to operate manual breathing for a patient - printed by the company's 3D printers. The system is automated and controlled by an electronic plate, also produced by Formon.
"VentCore automates the use of these bags in cases of COVID-19 infected patients, depending on whether it is appropriate for them; this is decided by the doctor," Cena said.
While Formon has not yet calculated the cost of a VentCore, "as the cost will be calculated based on the amount to be produced", Cena said it certainly would be a fraction of the cost of a standard hospital ventilator, which usually costs tens of thousands of euros.
Formon has decided to share all the production files,...
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