OxVent team sees ventilator type shortlisted by government

A multi-disciplinary team of engineers and medics at Oxford University and King’s College London has been shortlisted by the government to go to the next stage of testing of safety and usability for its ventilator type.

If the ventilator passes the required MHRA safety tests, it will move into production with Smith and Nephew (S&N) based in Hull.

This green light enables the OxVent team to test its prototype ventilators, developed in response to the coronavirus pandemic and forecasted acute shortage of ventilators. The next stage would be the manufacture of ventilators and deployment through the NHS. The design could also be used in other healthcare settings.

The team, led by Oxford professors Andrew Farmery, Mark Thompson, Tim Denison, Paul Goulart and Alfonso Castrejon-Pita and DPhil student Rob Staruch and King's College London’s Prof Sebastien Ourselin and Dr Federico Formenti, have defined a design that will meet the specifications for use with patients. The design will exploit off-the-shelf components and equipment with elements that can be produced through 3D printing techniques.

Professor Mark Thompson, said: “In less than two weeks the students, researchers and academics driving this project have brainstormed a prototype, developed into a highly-structured efficient and effective team and won Government backing. Collaboration is in our DNA and I am so proud of the team and the amazing support from our universities.”

Mark Gladwell, president, global operations at Smith+Nephew, said: “Smith+Nephew is proud to work with the OxVent team and bring our medical device design and manufacturing expertise to support the rapid delivery of this innovative new ventilator to the NHS.”