Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/Volkova Vera

Fundraiser set up by Irish researchers developing emergency ventilators for Covid-19 patients

The group is hoping to have a fully functional prototype by next Friday.

A GROUP OF IRISH researchers are raising funds to develop easy-to-assemble and inexpensive-to-build emergency ventilators for Covid-19 patients in a bid to tackle the global shortage.  

The group, which is collaborating with experts in research institutions in Ireland and the UK, is hoping to have a fully functional prototype by next Friday.

“Really, we just want to get something out there as soon as possible, so that we can save lives,” group spokesperson Aaron Hannon said as concerns are being raised globally that hospitals will struggle to cope with a large influx of Covid-19 patients. 

Hannon, who works in the school of medicine in NUI Galway and is from Co Mayo, set up the GoFundMe page on behalf of the Covid Response Team (CRT) – so far raising over €15,000. 

The team of engineers, doctors, and students are looking to raise €50,000 to develop and manufacture their Emergency Covid Ventilator. It is estimated that around 6% of Covid-19 cases will become critically ill and ventilators are vital in saving people experiencing lung failure. 

As things stand, over 200,000 cases of Covid-19 have been reported around the world. 

So far in Ireland, across all 557 cases, 31% of those diagnosed with the virus have been hospitalised while 7 cases (2% of overall number) have been admitted to an intensive care unit.

The HSE has already secured 300 additional ventilators, with more than 100 each week to be added to this number.

Tweet by @Aaron Hannon Aaron Hannon / Twitter Aaron Hannon / Twitter / Twitter

‘Built by anyone’ 

In Italy intensive care units have been overwhelmed, forcing healthcare workers to make the difficult decision in relation to which patients get access to ventilators. It overtook China yesterday as the country with the most coronavirus-related deaths, registering 3,405 dead.

The CRT said it does not want to see the Italian situation replicated around the world so it designed a straightforward nonprofit ventilator for health staff to operate.

It also requires little or no supply chain such that it can be rapidly introduced to hospitals worldwide by local healthcare services, according to the group. 

“We’re working on a number of different iterations as there are different kinds of ventilation required,” Hannon explained.

“Sometimes you need full control ventilation which is where the machine does all of your breathing for you. Other times, it needs what’s called supportive ventilation, which is where your body starts to breathe and then the ventilator kind of does the heavy lifting.”

The CRT is trying to provide devices for both of those scenarios as patients might need both options depending on their severity.

Hannon said all the money they raise will go towards prototype development and technical evaluation so that clinicians know that they can use these devices without unwarranted risk. 

“The second half of what we use the money for, in excess of the research and development costs, is to actually manufacture devices and to start to ship them,” said Hannon.

Taking into account that there’s going to be supply chain issues all around the world, we want to make the most basic equipment, a cleverly engineered, cleverly designed device that’s quite easy to build and can be installed as an emergency backup to the existing equipment in hospitals.

“So this equipment will still be used by trained staff, still be used in a hospital setting. The idea is that when the first line of ventilators run out that these open-source ventilators can be easily assembled at a low cost, so no patient has to go without ventilation equipment.”

Hannon said the group wants to start publishing its designs as well as providing training to international groups, so that these can be “built by literally anyone, anywhere in the world”.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
46 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute samstheman
    Favourite samstheman
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 8:08 AM

    Absolutely no place for this at any sports ground. They’re a disgrace to their county & should be barred from venues for life

    477
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute páraicS
    Favourite páraicS
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 8:41 AM

    @samstheman: They were kids, give them a break.

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute reg gordon
    Favourite reg gordon
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 8:49 AM

    @páraicS: To be fair in any other sport they would see some sort of ban. By not doing so the gaa are in some way allowing this behavior to spread.
    I’m a similar note I saw an underage hurling game on my local park whilst walking my dog where there was a proper fight on the pitch between 2 players where they had to be separated. Neither was sanctioned( or even told to shake hands afterwards) that’s really poor behavior from the coaches

    158
    See 14 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony
    Favourite Anthony
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 8:49 AM

    @páraicS: they weren’t ‘kids’ . Look at the footage. They were youths. And they were a disgrace. Pure thugs

    148
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute samstheman
    Favourite samstheman
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 9:03 AM

    @páraicS: big enough for kids. I stand by my comment. Then they got off with a caution. Joke, interestingly if they were Dubs what would you have to say?

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute thephantomshit
    Favourite thephantomshit
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 9:15 AM

    @Anthony: what’s a youth? If I host an under 15s soccer match is it a game between a gang of youths?

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Holland
    Favourite Paul Holland
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 9:35 AM

    @páraicS: I would say the people harassed or intimidated because of their carry on also deserve a break

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eamonn Ó Maoldomhnaigh
    Favourite Eamonn Ó Maoldomhnaigh
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 10:12 AM

    @páraicS: Kids ? They were given Adult cautions, Kids my ass!
    Imagine the damage there could have been done by their behaviour and come back and tell us to give them a break.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony
    Favourite Anthony
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 10:30 AM

    @thephantomshit: they were older than 15. Look at the footage.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronan Sexton
    Favourite Ronan Sexton
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 10:39 AM

    @páraicS: Nope.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tim Oleary
    Favourite Tim Oleary
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 11:01 AM

    @páraicS: noisy disruptive teenagers can be a nuisance at games to spectators near them needing the Guards to be called. Responsibility called for.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Kelly
    Favourite John Kelly
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 12:19 PM

    @páraicS: cops should have given both of them a good clipping. Teach them some manners.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard James
    Favourite Richard James
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 12:22 PM

    @páraicS: They got their break by not being charged, but why should paying spectators have to endure gobshyte behaviour from people at a match, regardless of age?

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Danny McCarthy
    Favourite Danny McCarthy
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 4:12 PM

    @John Kelly: bring back nidge, they need to be clipped.
    Everyone is responsible for their own actions, I’d say their families are proud of them today. If u keep messing with fire u get burnt & these guys have a long way to go if they keep lighting fires.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Don Dealgan
    Favourite Don Dealgan
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 8:46 PM

    @reg gordon: gaa use kid gloves wth onfield violence likewise wth thuggery on terraces

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute samstheman
    Favourite samstheman
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 11:17 PM

    @Don Dealgan: the GAA didn’t let them go with an “adult caution” the Gardai did

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tim Oleary
    Favourite Tim Oleary
    Report
    May 21st 2019, 10:55 AM

    @samstheman: talk a bit of sense. Don’t be trying to excuse this rowdyism. People like you add to the problem.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Smith
    Favourite John Smith
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 8:31 AM

    Too much Clonmel apple juice….

    227
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronan Sexton
    Favourite Ronan Sexton
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 10:42 AM

    There seems to be a developing culture of phuckwits in the last year at hurling matches. I was at the Limerick match yesterday and there was a gang of aroud 40 neanderthals roaring out soccer chants for the whole match. These vermin have no place at hurling games and this must be nipped in the bud now.

    121
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Ó Murchú
    Favourite Seán Ó Murchú
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 10:56 AM

    @Ronan Sexton: People were singing songs at a match and you got upset? Think you need a new hobby.

    120
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronan Sexton
    Favourite Ronan Sexton
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 4:46 PM

    @Seán Ó Murchú: No Sean, are yout comprehension skills that bad? There are night classes for that.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adolf Galland
    Favourite Adolf Galland
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 8:29 AM

    Why were Tipp fans beating up Tipp fans????

    90
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute shellakybooky
    Favourite shellakybooky
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 9:54 AM

    @Adolf Galland: drink

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ed
    Favourite Ed
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 10:33 AM

    This isn’t the first time Tipperary supporters have been fighting each other at matches. There should be a ban on intoxicated people going into matches.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seanie Bourke
    Favourite Seanie Bourke
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 2:09 PM

    @Ed: when was d other time

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm O'Sullivan
    Favourite Colm O'Sullivan
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 10:34 AM

    Unbelievable they were let go.

    Their actions both warranted being charged with public order offences, the little thug on the left in the video being the chief culprit, its an assault in broad daylight with hundreds of witnesses for christ’s sake.

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tubbsyf
    Favourite tubbsyf
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 1:57 PM

    points deduction for Tipp

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom49
    Favourite Tom49
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 9:55 PM

    @tubbsyf: you can have 17 points of you’re from Waterford

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Mc Meel
    Favourite Liam Mc Meel
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 10:30 AM

    Ah sure it only a bit of banter

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ollie Watson
    Favourite Ollie Watson
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 8:11 AM

    Yup 50 year old Saracens fans Nayo

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute matthew o reilly
    Favourite matthew o reilly
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 11:09 PM

    If that was the Dubs.liveline would get 2 weeks out of it

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael O'Driscoll
    Favourite Michael O'Driscoll
    Report
    May 20th 2019, 6:51 PM

    Wildlings.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds