Design of Low-Cost Emergency Ventilators: A Systems Approach

Abstract

 In 2019, the development of low-cost emergency ventilators began gaining traction, driven by the need for accessible respiratory support in pre-hospital, low-resource, and surge scenarios. A notable prototype demonstrated a simple, pressure-sensing ventilator utilizing a digital pressure sensor and control logic to detect leaks, compliance shifts, and airway resistance in a test-lung environment PubMed. Meanwhile, open-source efforts began to emerge, focusing on lightweight, portable, turbine-based ventilator concepts that prioritized affordability, safety, and adaptability, with design documentation made publicly accessible PubMed. This study synthesizes those early 2019 contributions within a systems-engineering framework. We highlight design considerations spanning mechanical actuation, pneumatic control, sensing, electronics, and safety monitoring. The systems approach emphasizes modularity, robustness, and manufacturability using accessible components. Key metrics include cost, performance fidelity, safety compliance, and ease of assembly. The ventilation prototype achieved acceptable pressure waveforms, detected simulated leaks ≥ 6 mm², and observed meaningful compliance/resistance changes without complex hardware PubMed. The turbine-based design showcased scalable, open-source architecture and pressure-mode capability with safety alarms PubMed. The systems approach integrates these insights to recommend best practices in emergency ventilator design: prioritizing essential ventilation modes, minimizing reliance on scarce sensors, utilizing modular actuation mechanisms, and embedding essential safety features in a low-cost footprint. This work underscores the potential for accessible, rapidly deployable ventilatory support systems and calls for clinical validation and integration into emergency preparedness protocols.