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The device, called VITAL (Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessly Locally), passed a critical test on April 21 at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, an epicenter of Covid-19 in the United States, NASA said Thursday. .
The device is now under review for an emergency use authorization by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the US space agency said.
VITAL is designed to treat patients with milder symptoms, thus maintaining the nation’s limited supply of traditional ventilators available for patients with more severe Covid-19 symptoms.
The device can be built faster and maintained more easily than a traditional fan, and it comprises far fewer parts, making it more economical to produce, NASA said.
Developed by engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, the device was designed to use parts currently available to potential manufacturers but not compete with the existing supply chain of currently manufactured fans.
“We specialize in spacecraft, not medical device manufacturing,” said JPL director Michael Watkins.
“But excellent engineering, rigorous testing, and rapid prototyping are some of our specialties. When the people at JPL realized they might have what it takes to support the medical community and the community at large, they felt it was his duty to share his wit, experience and driving, “said Watkins.
We generally build spaceships, not medical devices, but we want to help. In the midst of the pandemic # COVID19, we designed a hello … https://t.co/ePr8R3ROME
– NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) 1587676830000
Like all ventilators, VITAL requires that patients be sedated and that an oxygen tube be inserted into their airways to breathe.
The new device would not replace current hospital ventilators, which can last for years and are designed to address a broader range of medical problems.
Instead, VITAL is designed to last three to four months and is specifically designed for Covid-19 patients.
“Intensive care units are serving Covid-19 patients who require highly dynamic ventilators,” said J.D. Polk, NASA’s medical and health director.
“The intention with VITAL is to decrease the likelihood that patients will reach that advanced stage of the disease and require more advanced ventilation assistance.”
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