Hansen Ventilator

Problem being addressed

Newborns that are unable to breathe on their own require mechanical assistance to breathe in order to survive long enough to develop their lungs. The cost of mechanical ventilators however, precludes their extensive use in resource-limited settings.

Detailed description of the solution

The Hansen Ventilator reduces the price and complexity of ventilators by using columns of water to control the pressure of the air instead of complex mechanical mechanisms. The ventilator can be created from off-the-shelf components and costs a fraction of the price of conventional ventilators.

Designed by

• Designed by: Dr. Tom Hansen and Peter Richardson.
• Manufacturing: Seattle Children's Hospital

Testing/Implementation

Animal trials began in 2010 to determine the device's efficiency. Currently, the device awaits approval for clinical trials and manufacturing in India.

Funding Source

This device was initially funded by Seattle's Children Hospital and currently there is a partnership with PATH in Seattle for field testing.

References

Peer-reviewed publication

Diblasi, R. M., Zignego, J. C., Smith, C. V., Hansen, T. N., & Richardson, C. P. (2010). Effective Gas Exchange in Paralyzed Juvenile Rabbits Using Simple, Inexpensive Respiratory Support Devices. Pediatric Research, 68(6). Link available here.

Diblasi, R. M., Zignego, J. C., Smith, C. V., Hansen, T. N., Richardson, C. P., Tang, D. M., & Hildebrandt, J. (2010). Noninvasive Respiratory Support of Juvenile Rabbits by High-Amplitude Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Pediatric Research, 67(6). Link available here.

Other internally generated reports

Seattle Children’s. (2010). High hopes for low-tech ventilator. Link available here.

Seattle Children's. (n.d.) Hansen Ventilator. Link available here.

Seattle Children's. (2010). GAPPS and the Hansen Ventilator. Link available here.

Externally generated reports

Northwest Association for Biomedical Research. (2011.) Thomas Hansen, M.D., 2011 Dr. Alvin J. Thompson Award winner. Link available here.

PATH. (2010). Technology solutions for global health. PDF available here.

Timmerman L. (2010.) Seattle Children’s CEO, between meetings, invents cheap ventilator to save babies worldwide. Link available here.

IP and copyright

US Patent application number 12/899,177.

Publication number

US 2011/0073112 A1

Filing date

October 6, 2010

European Patent application

EP2345444

Kind Code

A1