OPEN VENTILATOR - Project Philosophy
Do you have a solution for a problem that only works in your country or city? So then it isn`t a solutions is a new problem. The day humanity starts thinking about a global and interconected society as a hole we will evolve as a society to a new level.
A solution that can only be reproduced in rich countries is selfish and a characteristic of imperialism projects. We believe in a OpenSource and Free Society where knowledges and essential resources are determined and distributed by the needs of eachone and not by how much you can pay for it.
This is not Socialism and neither a Capitalism ideal, this is a Hippie idea that began in the 1960s. The idea of free knowledge, the idea of Ubuntu, free software, open access to knowledge sources. The idea that if alone we can go fast, together we can go further.
Taking this as an standard basis we decided to make this project like so.
Please read how ventilators used to work on the 50s and even before.
Any complaints about the safety and usage of those machines should have been made 70 years ago, when many ventilators started to surge. It is a surreal scenario to see that engeeniers try to make an Ambubag to be pushed in a ritmic time and forget that these guys made history
Today many people talk about sanitary standards and forget that the poor don't even have soap on their countries. Many people have said that our machine can't be used in a ICU (WE DON'T WANT EVEN TO USE THIS MACHINE at all) but the truth We should ask is how many people in the world have access to an ICU? How many people have access to minimum sanitary standards. How many can make a ventilator we a US$300,00 valve and a US$400 electronic controller?
The current health and economical system just shown us how they FAILED to provide Health to everyone. In the history of Capitalism the Chicago Boys told us: When a high Demand we will have a higher supply with lower prices. This is exatcly the opposite that we see on this crisis.
Tipically and also many other teams have beeing putting efforts to solve the supply on Ventilators. Please notice that electronics and fancy projects from chic universities are not scalable as they should to provide an "emergency solution" for the Covid-19 crisis AROUND THE WORLD. Also we strongly believe that a pandemic like this should have a GLOBAL solution as it is a GLOBAL problem. We still believe in the power of people cooperation, on liberty and equality to Build, make, test and work on a Global Solutions.
Is very easy to manufacture a machine in a country with GPD per capita of 100.000 dollars while in the majority of the world is suffering and literally sufocating on poverty! The problem is manufacture this machine on Scale. Ventilators exist since 1800s so, this shows that it isn't a Engineering problem, but rather an scale supply chain problem.
Any person with reasonable knowledge about and how a ventilator works can make a ventilator. The problem is NOT AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM, it is a scale and logistics problem. We can't even provide sanitary standards to some countries, and there is people trying to build ventilators? What about everything that goes in the ICU? The Gasometry and the other periferals we have to a proper treatment?
On stage #1 of the infection patients show no symptoms at all or a few symptoms that don't compromises the "normal" life of the person. Recomend Treatment ISOLATION and other actions
On stage #2 of the infection patient needs help of Oxygen Mask or Canula to breath, some cases need NIV. The treatment should be provided at a hospital. Possible Non-Invasive Ventilator need. AVOID CPAP as it may increase inflamatory process
On stage #3 of the infection patient needs IMV over strong sedation.
On stage #4 of the infection patient doesn't show recovery, PEEP pressure should be increased, also Pronate the patient and increase the Oxygen mixture becomes one of the dificulties.
On all thoose stages we want to help on the last 3, with a simple to build and operate machine.
The most manufactured items in worlds history probably are nails or mud-bricks. We have also clothing and probably toilet paper. All those items can be made by anyone willing to make them
On the Software level we have Linux, that is a mission critical system running the International Space Station, or other types of systems. The Decentralization of the project is more importante for the scale of the project than the proud to say: "Ohhhh my prescioussss"
That's why we choose to make this project Public and Open. We do not encourage people in any way to intubate humans or animals with this device!!! We would prefere that it never have to be used, but more evil an wicked is to forbid someone to try. No one will try to entubate someone without need. No one would like to see deaths on their hands. Hope is the last that dies in this situations.