Two months after rising to the challenge of UPM Chancellor Carmencita Padilla and College of Medicine Dean Charlotte Chiong for the development of locally manufactured adult ventilators, the OstreaVent II is now on its final stages of testing prior to a safety clinical trial. Dr. Enrique Ostrea, corresponding member of the National Academy of Science and Technology and adjunct research professor of UPM National Institutes of Health, formed a core group composed of Engr. Alexander Paran, Engr. Robert Dizon, Dr. Manuel Jorge II, Dr. Ma. Kriselda Tan, Dr. Herbert Uy, Dr. Edward Faustino, and Dr. Maria Esterlita Uy to upgrade the neonatal OstreaVent I into an adult ventilator, OstreaVent II.
The OstreaVent hardware was manufactured, some by 3-D printing, at the Metals Industry and Research Development Center (MIRDC-DOST) headed by Engr. Dizon. Display programming was also developed by his MIRDC group. Engr. Paran developed and analyzed computer simulations and modeling of the different ventilator scenarios. A weekly online discourse of clinical scenarios, lung physiology, and usual ventilator modes, especially among COVID-19 adult patients, with the medical team helped in the development of the final model of the OstreaVent II.
From a neonatal pressure-limited time-cycled ventilator, the OstreaVent II can now handle higher pressure settings needed by adults. In addition, it now has a volume mode which is capable of tidal volumes as high as 700 ml and more. In the display module, it can now show the volume and flow scalar graphs aside from the pressure graph which was already installed in the neonatal OstreaVent I. Both OstreaVents I and II have a USB attachment which can record 1,500 breaths. A more complete analysis of recorded volumes and pressures at different ventilator settings will be performed and reported.
Recently, the OstreaVent II has undergone simulation testing at the Pulmonology Laboratory of the Philippine General Hospital. On attaching the OstreaVent II to the Michigan Instruments Lung Simulator (owned by Dr. Abundio Balgos), the tidal volumes and pressures were found comparable to the ventilator’s visual display as well as the measurements extracted from the USB. Once these tests are approved, the OstreaVent II will go for safety clinical trials and subsequently will be for compassionate use by adult patients during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Ma. Esterlita Uy | Published in Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 6