The University Of Lagos (UNILAG) is on the verge of producing low-cost rapidly deployable Ambubag and mechanical ventilators; The institution seeks for ways to reduce the mortality rate of COVID-19 in Nigeria as most cases are due to inadequacy of ventilators.
The Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, in a statement, disclosed that the shortage of ventilators has contributed more to the death of COVID-19 patients in many parts of the world;
Mr Ogundipe has, therefore, set up a multi-disciplinary research team drawn from Departments of Anaesthesia, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Sciences, and Physics and Metallurgical and Materials Engineering that will be led by Hakeem Amuda, an Associate Professor of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and Deputy Director (Innovation) in the Research and Innovation Office of the institution, in providing intervention at two levels.
”The first is the development of low-cost rapidly deployable Ambubag ventilators, while the second is the adaptation of already existing mechanical ventilators to accommodate up to 10 patients with provision for tubing splinter device. The development of the low-cost Ambubag ventilator has reached an advanced stage, and this will address the shortage of mechanical ventilators in the nation. It is a first-level “stop-gap” approach to quickly provide access to the much needed life-saving device.
A standard mechanical ventilator usually cost between $20,000 and $35,000 and is currently scarce all over the world, but the Ambubag ventilator being developed will cost around N300,000 to N350,000 each and can be made available in thousands when completed. Currently, the team has reached the level of integration and testing of the system, and once this is completed, the prototype will be made available to the public.
The product is largely driven by local contents, and this will create a value chain that will extend to some artisans in the country. The product will also be energy-efficient and back-up power will be provided. One of the salient aspects of this product is the safety assurance that it provides to patients. The product mimics the natural lungs; thus, guarantees that the lungs are protected when patients recover and are discharged.
This means that the lungs are not damaged or collapsed as a result of the pressure from the product in the long run. The necessary clinical parameters have been put into cognisance for efficacy.”
