UCL-Ventura breathing aid is a lifesaver for COVID-19 patients around the world

In March 2020, UCL, UCL Hospitals Foundation Trust (UCLH) and Formula 1 engineers Mercedes AMG HPP reverse engineered a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device. Ventilators were in short supply, and they saw how CPAPs were being used in China and Italy to keep patients off invasive mechanical ventilators. They developed the product in record time while ensuring it could be mass manufactured quickly and at a low cost. Crucially, they also made it easy for hospital staff to learn how to use it.

During the pandemic, UK clinical practice has shifted towards the use of CPAPs. This strategy has reduced the use of mechanical ventilation by 26%, intensive care stays have halved for survivors, and mortality has fallen by a quarter.

UCL Business (UCLB), the commercialisation arm of UCL and part of UCL Innovation & Enterprise, has been instrumental in getting the UCL-Ventura produced globally. UCLB obtained the licensing so that the designs and manufacturing information were made freely available. To date, over 1,900 teams in 105 countries have downloaded the files.

UCL is working with the UK government, international charities and industry to support locally made devices in India, South Africa, Ukraine and Latin America. UK-manufactured CPAPs have been provided to countries including Pakistan, Uganda and Palestine.

Read the full story on the UCL news website.

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Find out more about:

• how the UCL-Ventura breathing aid was developed and licensed in record time
• UCLB
• UCL-Ventura

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