Fewer than 2,000 working ventilators serve hundreds of millions of people in 41 countries across Africa, compared to over 170,000 in the US alone.
Prana is a passive, multi-patient attachment for hospital ventilators that allows up to four patients to share a single machine safely.
The device was inspired by a series of interviews with doctors and respiratory therapists in Ghana, Cambodia, Mexico, and India where ventilators are a scarce commodity.
After we spoke with Dr. Aidoo, an anesthesiology resident at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, we were disheartened to hear that patients were turned away due to a lack of ventilators at the facility.
These patients either return to the hospital needing critical medical intervention since their conditions escalate, or they end up losing their lives. If we can split ventilators at the preventative stage, we can avoid patients needing critical care and further straining hospital resources, which allows them to save lives.
We have interviewed
The problems we found
Idea evolution
Four-way splitter
All the components are housed in an enclosure that facilitates rapid assembly and disassembly of parts for maintenance and sterilization.
Prototype testing
The system can be conceived for less than $1,000 for four patients, compared to traditional noninvasive ventilators that cost $5,000 to $15,000 for only one patient.
Enclosure
Interface
Features
