Ukrainian IT volunteers collect oxygen concentrator for treating patients with coronavirus

A team of volunteers from various IT projects gathered in the Kyiv hackerspace HackLab to assemble a prototype oxygen concentrator. This is a device that helps to saturate the patient’s lungs with oxygen, and it is no less important in the treatment of the disease than the mechanical ventilation apparatus (mechanical ventilation). About the project AIN.UA was told by one of its participants, Roman Podenezhny. Details about the project are also on the site.

What is an oxygen concentrator?

Some patients with COVID-19 need to be connected to a ventilator, and still others need monitoring of the oxygen content in the blood and oxygen therapy. When pneumonia develops in patients with coronavirus, a sufficient amount of oxygen ceases to flow into the blood.

While a person can still breathe independently, mechanical ventilation is not required: it is enough to let the mixture breathe, where the percentage of oxygen is higher than in the atmosphere. At this stage, we need hubs.

“The patient’s condition can be maintained for a rather long time, and some people can be cured without connecting mechanical ventilation. Releasing it to those for whom it is needed”, – noted in the development team.

Since there are almost no concentrators available for purchase in Ukraine, the team decided to try to assemble the device on their own.

At what stage is the project?

A team of 10 volunteers (from various IT companies, such as Google, Samsung, GlobalLogic) is currently working on the hub project, three are working full time, the rest are part-time. They are engaged in the development of technical documentation, 3D-modeling, development of a printed circuit board, writing firmware, etc.

Now the prototype of the concentrator is ready, it is being tested. In the video you can see the results of its tests and its design.

Now the concentrator can produce a stream with a concentration of 88-90% of pure oxygen.

“We are working on obtaining a stable oxygen concentration at maximum flow power. A third of the technical documentation is ready. We are negotiating with the hospital management about trials with the participation of patients and doctors”, – says Podenezhny.

What do they want to achieve?

The aim of the project is to build an apparatus that stably produces 5l / min of oxygen with a purity of 85% and higher, with a manufacturing cost of up to UAH 10,000. And supply it to the hospitals.

In April 2020, the team plans to finish work on documentation and tests, setting up a prototype. And in May, prepare instructions, documents and set up supplies of components and consumables so that local communities of volunteers and makers can participate in the manufacture of such devices.

The project is open: the team encourages makers to join the development of documentation and create the same devices based on it.

Source: ain.ua