Oxygen-Harvesting Ventilators

The Ventibag ventilation system is a solution that could work to revolutionize the healthcare industry by harvesting oxygen from the ambient environment rather than require dedicate air tanks or a centralized system. The system works by harnessing the technology used by airliners and consists of a porous mineral called zeolite that is used to absorb nitrogen from pressurized atmospheric air. The nitrogen is then pushed out of the system to leave behind compressed gas that's up to 96% oxygen.

The Ventibag ventilation system was designed by researchers Dr. Adnan Qamar and Ahad Syed of the Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

Qamar spoke on the system saying, "We conceived this device to address a critical need in the pandemic challenge, which is the shortage of medical beds and overcrowding of hospitals. We asked, 'Why should patients suffering from COVID-19 or lung diseases be in a crowded facility at all?' We envisioned a portable device that could provide quality care, but from the convenience of a patient's home."

Image Credit: KAUST