Rapid development of a ventilator for use during the COVID-19 pandemic: Clinical, human factor & engineering considerations

The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 threatened to overwhelm the NH ability to provide sufficient critical care support to patients in the UK. In response to a rapid rise in cases in March 2020, the UK Government issued a call to industry to rapidly design and develop additional ventilators to expand the UK’s capacity for mechanical ventilation. Three NHS consultants working in conjunction with TTP Plc (The Technology Partnership), were at the forefront, evolving the Government brief and developing a safe and effective ventilator, the CoVent™, in less than 5 weeks. The project demonstrates the ability of physicians to guide industry and pool knowledge and resources to rapidly develop and evolve technology in the face of a national emergency. This article discusses key aspects of the design process, highlights the unique human factors and engineering aspects of undertaking this amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Overall we demonstrated that when industry, healthcare and regulatory bodies collaborate and communicate efficiently, huge progress can be made in a fraction of the usual timescales.