An independent non-profit volunteer initiative initiated by Source Institute, Sofia Tech Park & BESCO – the Bulgarian Startup Association, created a platform to collect DIY plans and designs for mechanical ventilators – http://diyventilators.com/.
“A shortage of mechanical ventilators is expected because of patients with COVID-19. In order to save lives of people who will not have access to such equipment, our goal is to make it locally possible to create these using standard parts that can be found easily. We aim to make an open library of do-it-yourself plans and designs that others can improve on or assemble themselves,” the organizers said in the release.
There are 2,000 mechanical ventilators in Bulgaria, and 4,000 are expected to be needed if the adverse scenarios occur. “There are projects that are trying to mobilize groups of people to make such machines, but they are finding it difficult for several reasons. A few people have organized themselves to create a platform that will be open and accessible to everyone, which will try to help solve this problem by providing free designs for ventilators that can be made and assembled anywhere in the world where there is a health department and a need. This project aims to connect people who can make small prototypes quickly, and then share their designs with others. We need engineers, doctors and people who can facilitate the whole process.” The organizers of the initiative will also be contacting manufacturers of such devices, asking them to provide drawings of their old models that they no longer produce, so they don’t have to worry about competition.
More information at: http://diyventilators.com
