Breathing Device Gaining Attention Amid Ventilators Shortage
Mar 30, 2020, 5:55 PM | Updated: 6:10 pm
PROVO, Utah – A breathing device is gaining attention as global worries about ventilator shortages continue to grow during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The device is the Oxylator EMX, a simple resuscitation device that can be utilized as a ventilator during the coronavirus outbreak.
“This is a simple resuscitation device that has been FDA approved and used by military personnel in the U.S. and throughout the world for over a decade,” said critical care physician Dr. Branden Rosenhan. “(It) can be utilized as a ventilator in emergency scenarios, like we’re seeing right now.”
The device is attached to a standard medical air compressor and can provide positive pressure to the patient’s lungs via an intratracheal tube or positive pressure mask, similar to ones used with CPAP machines.
Medical staff can also add an off-the-shelf peep valve to the Oxylator.
“In a ventilator shortage, this will provide what a ventilator does for, say, 50% of the people that would need a ventilator,” Rosenhan said.
The Oxylator also costs around one-tenth of a ventilator, which can run between $20,000 and $50,000.
“Not only it is a tenth of the price, but the hospital can use it afterward,” Rosenhan said. “It’s recyclable — you can reclean it and rewash it and it’s indestructible.”
Orders for Oxylators have already been placed in virus hotspots across the country, including New Orleans and New York. It is manufactured in Montreal, Canada.
Coronavirus Resources
- Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.
- What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
- What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
- Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
- The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
- Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?
How Do I Prevent It?
The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:
- Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
- Avoid touching your face
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
The CDC does not recommend wearing a face mask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.
How To Get Help
If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.
Additional Resources
If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.