BBC TV’s Click programme broadcast an item on 28 March  highlighting the work done in the UK, Spain and Rumania designing, developing and manufacturing innovative new, lower-cost ventilators for COVID-19 victims.

Oxford University and Kings College London have designed and produced a working prototype of a new ‘Oxvent’ ventilator that uses off-the-shelf components and can be sold at a price of around GBP1000, lower than the 10,000 GBP price that is more typical.

Other projects are using computer-printable approaches for creating ventilator parts.

See the Click programme at:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000gyt0/click-the-race-to-save-lives

And the Guardian reports that leading global companies such as Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Ford have joined a consortium called Ventilator Challenge UK to produce increased numbers of existing models already manufactured by firms such as Smiths and Penlon.

Other companies involved include Meggitt, GKN, McLaren, BAE Systems, Inspiration Healthcare, Renishaw, Siemens, Thales and Ultra Electronics.

Electronics manufacturer Dyson is also planning to ramp up ventilator production over the coming weeks

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/26/how-the-uk-plans-to-source-30000-ventilators-for-nhs-coronavirus

Credit Cover Picture: BBC News Click