OxVent low-cost ventilator wins at E&T Innovation Awards

The rapidly deployable ventilator designed between King's College London and Oxford University won the award for most innovative technology.

The OxVent rapidly deployable and scalable low-cost mechanical ventilator specially designed for COVID-19, has been recognised as one of the best innovations of the year by the Institute of Engineering and Technology, beating five competing entries to win the ‘Small Idea, Big Impact: Global Challenge' category.

Initially designed in response to the shortage of ventilators caused by the pandemic, researchers from the University of Oxford and King’s College London worked together in response to the UK Government’s ‘Ventilator Challenge’.

The ventilator was shortlisted from among 5,000 offers of support.

OxVent was designed to fill the gap between expensive complex commercial ventilation systems and basic open-loop systems that lack sensors, feedback control or alarms.

It provides the necessary level of performance for an emergency ventilator, yet with a scalable and affordable solution.

Prof Sebastien Ourselin, Head of School, Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, said:

Winning the E&T Innovation Global Challenge award is a fantastic achievement for the OxVent team. It is deserved recognition for developing an innovative medical solution to address COVID-19 critical challenges and offering a scalable and cost-effective ventilator that can be used in low and middle-income countries with urgent clinical need.

The team of engineers, medics and manufacturers partnered with Smith+Nephew to translate the academic prototype into a safe, reliable and manufacturable product. OxVent Ltd., the resulting joint-venture non-profit enterprise, will support the technology transfer for the mechanical ventilator design to be deployed internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Federico Formenti, senior lecturer at King’s College London’s Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences, said:

We are thrilled for this fantastic award and recognition, especially given the range of outstanding projects shortlisted for the Global Challenge Category. This success is a celebration of diversity, as well as skilled, selfless and collaborative effort. The congratulations are to each of the more than 100 individuals who made themselves and their skills available 24/7 for weeks, for the benefit of mankind.

Our Clinical Academic Group (CAG) provides a children and adults allergy and immunology service; diagnostic, treatment and continuing care services for respiratory disorders such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, pneumonia, and tuberculosis; and critical care services. 

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