Imperial academics London have designed a simple low cost emergency ventilator.

The researchers from the departments of Bioengineering and Surgery and Cancer have produced a ventilator design from generic components which could support health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It can be used both in high income countries and low or middle income countries, where the pressure on resources is likely to be even greater.

Because the ventilator uses off-the-shelf components, its parts can in principle be sourced more quickly and at lower cost than proprietary components. The team estimates the cost of the components in the UK at £1,000 - £1,500. The design also makes it possible to avoid supply bottlenecks since equivalent parts may be available from a variety of manufacturers.