Open Source 3D Printed Ventilators Emerge to Fight COVID-19 Shortages
As the COVID-19 pandemic causes severe ventilator shortages worldwide, open-source projects are utilizing 3D printing to create emergency respiratory devices. These initiatives automate standard manual resuscitation bags to provide critical life-saving support.
The global COVID-19 pandemic causes a severe shortage of critical medical supplies, particularly ventilators and masks. Because hospital-grade ventilators cost up to $50,000 and rely on complex, disrupted supply chains, manufacturers struggle to meet the massive surge in demand. Additive manufacturing offers a flexible solution by enabling local, on-demand production of necessary medical equipment right where the need is greatest.
To address this life-threatening gap, grassroots engineering groups develop emergency ventilators using 3D-printed components. One notable project is the E-Vent, an open-source ventilator created by former MIT student Stephen Powelson. This system automates manual resuscitation devices, commonly known as Ambu-Bags, which are already standard equipment in hospital rooms for emergency response.
The E-Vent design utilizes two motor-driven acrylic arms controlled by an Arduino Uno to compress the Ambu-Bag in a synchronized rhythm. By making the project open source and publishing extensive technical notes online, the MIT team enables global researchers and makers to replicate the device. This collaborative approach showcases how 3D printing and open-source communities rapidly mobilize to support overwhelmed healthcare systems during a crisis.