Mercedes Formula 1 team has teamed up with doctors and engineers from University College London in a bid to build breathing support machines that can be produced quickly for patients infected with the coronavirus, contributing to a development that could help reduce the need for ventilators. These are devices that will deliver oxygen directly to the lungs without the assistance of a ventilator. The continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, redesigned from an existing device in less than 100 hours, have been recommended for use by the UK's medicines and healthcare regulator, according to a statement from University College London (UCL), which is involved in the project.
CPAP machines have been used in hospitals in China and Italy to treat coronavirus infections, with reports suggesting that around 50% of patients given CPAP avoided the need for invasive mechanical ventilation, which involves sedation, freeing up ventilators for those most in need. There is a serious shortage of ventilators in a number of countries, including the UK, which are dealing with daily cases of the pandemic.
UCLH's critical care consultant, Professor Mervyn Singer, said in a statement that the machines would help save lives by ensuring that ventilators, a limited resource, were only used for the most seriously ill patients.
CPAP machines help keep patients' airways open and increase the amount of oxygen entering the lungs by forcing air and oxygen into the mouth and nose at a constant rate. According to reports, 100 of the newly created devices will be used in clinical trials at UCLH, with rapid deployment to hospitals across the country ahead of the expected surge in coronavirus admissions . UCLH Professor Tim Baker said a process that could take years has been reduced to just a few days, explaining that the team worked hard to dismantle and analyse an existing device. Finally, Andy Cowell, managing director of Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains, said he was proud that the Formula 1 team was able to build breathing support machines in such a short time.
