Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit Mass Produces Ventilators To Combat COVID-19
To overcome shortages, various companies are trying to either create makeshift ventilators or source hardware to give it to hospitals in need. However, Virgin Orbit -- owned by Richard Branson -- has created ventilators with the help of in-house engineers to bridge this gap.
COVID-19 has over 8.5 lakh confirmed cases till date and has claimed lives of over 42,000 people globally, and it is showing no signs of stopping just yet.
It has taken an even scary turn in the US with over 100,000 people infected, even as Coronavirus cases rise sharply in India on a day-to-day basis.
Reuters
The rising number of cases is putting immense stress on the medical equipment and supplies to help cure infected patients. Hospitals are running out of ventilators that are crucial to help people with COVID-19 breathing when the disease takes a rough turn.
To overcome this shortage, various companies are trying to either create makeshift ventilators or source hardware to give it to the hospitals in need. However, Virgin Orbit -- owned by Richard Branson -- has created ventilators with the help of in-house engineers to bridge this gap.
They¡¯ve created a ventilator taking the help of an Ambu bag, along with a metal lever that allows the Ambu bag (similar to what engineers at MIT implemented with the E-Vent) to be pushed at regular intervals to help the air travel into the lungs of the patients, keeping them alive.
Virgin Orbit
Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart said in a statement, ¡°We are all heartbroken each night as we turn on the news and see the predicament facing doctors and nurses as they heroically work to save lives. I have never seen our team working harder. Never seen ideas moving quicker from design to prototype. We are hopeful that this device can help as we all prepare for the challenges ahead.¡±
While the device is all ready to save lives, Virgin Orbit is awaiting clearance from the Food and Drugs Administration and aims to start production at its facility in Long Beach as early as the first week of April and deliver units into the hands of first responders and healthcare professionals as soon as possible.
