Slepian Submits Low-Cost Ventilator Prototypes To Department Of Defense

Marvin Slepian, clinical professor of BME and Regents Professor of the BIO5 Institute, is contributing to the fight against COVID-19 by submitting three low-cost ventilator prototypes to the Department of Defense. 

In recent coverage by KGUN, Slepian discussed the ingenuity of these prototypes. One of the three designs even uses a household object to help COVID-19 patients. 

"For the more seriously ill patient, we needed to mechanically drive in and out the air and gas exchange. And for that, we use the most common available volume item you have in your closet: a sports ball," Slepian said. "Everyone has a basketball. Here at UA, we're all about basketball or volleyball, soccer or football."

The other designs use a foot pump and a 3D-printed piston.

All of these designs cost less than $300 to make, while modern ventilators can often cost between $5,000 and $50,000 each.