Mercedes Benz Develops High-Efficiency CPAP Device

By Admin

Amid rising demands for respiratory aids and other medical equipment, automobile manufacturer Mercedes Benz has developed a high-efficiency CPAP device planned for rapid rollout to hospitals in need. As automobile production slowed at the beginning of 2020, Mercedes used its state-of-the-art engineering capabilities to focus instead on medical equipment, producing face shields and PAP-therapy machines to help provide patients with efficient and reliable products during this period of high demand. With PAP-therapy machines being used as makeshift ventilators in some situations, the company also hopes the increased supply will counteract some of the shortages occurring in areas with the most need. Teaming up with researchers from the University College London Hospital (UCLH), as well as other engineers in the Formula One circuit, specialists with the Mercedes-AMG Formula One High Performance Powertrain (HPP) group have created the device for "Project Pitlane," an industry-wide effort to manufacture and deliver respiratory equipment to hospitals experiencing shortages. In line with their reputation for speed and efficiency, the company has developed the device in record time, shipping the first orders less than 100 hours from their initial meeting in March, and the response from the public has been highly positive.

A Changing Market

The Mercedes Benz Formula One team, owned by parent company Daimler AG, is an award-winning manufacturer of high-performance engines and one of the most advanced automobile technology companies in the world. Earlier this year, Daimler decided to convert the majority of its Formula One production operations for the development of medical equipment. After reconfiguring their 3-D printers for the task, the team then used computer simulations and open-source technologies to reverse engineer a standard-model CPAP, enhancing the design for maximum efficiency and rapid production. Machines that would normally produce F1 pistons and turbochargers are now being used for production of the new device, ensuring top quality with Formula-One standards and technologies. Professor Rebecca Shipley, Director of UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering, told BBC News that under normal circumstances, medical device development could take years to complete, but the reverse engineering process took less than a week, allowing the team to produce the devices quickly and at scale. By taking apart an existing off-patent device, the team learned everything they needed to develop a new version and adapt it for mass production. According to a statement posted on the Daimler AG website, the devices, called UCL-Ventura Breathing Aids, have passed their initial clinical trials and are now being used in hospitals in Europe. And as an open-source project, all knowledge required to develop and manufacture the device, such as the design specs, materials, and tools used during the production process, has been made available online for use by other manufacturers and health professionals around the world.

A High-Performance Solution

The UCL-Ventura CPAP is a high-performance Formula One product, the result of a focused effort by top engineers and academics using skilled assembly, rapid prototype development, and thorough testing procedures to create the most efficient device possible while still maintaining a rapid rollout in high numbers. Rather than compete with other PAP-therapy products already on the market, the Pitlane project focused first on immediate demands, emphasizing ease of use and adaptability over more advanced options such as BiPAP or ASV. One of the reasons for this project’s urgency is the growing need for breathing aids. Where ventilators are in short supply, CPAP machines are being used as alternative breathing aids, providing streams of air and oxygen and stabilizing airways so patients can breathe easier and sleep through the night. As the need for ventilators became a top news story, many manufacturers, such as Ford and General Motors, began developing ventilators and ventilator components as part of concerted effort to meet the demand, but CPAP machines were needed as well, especially for those with less serious conditions, or those wishing to avoid intubation. By boosting supplies of CPAP machines, the project also hopes to avoid overuse of the more invasive ventilators.

As mentioned in our previous article, there have been some concerns about the risk of spreading illnesses when using PAP-therapy devices, but these risks are minimal compared with other more common ways of contracting an illness. According to the National Health Service of Britain, a tight seal, along with personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical staff, can minimize the risk even in cases where patients are potentially infected. As long as these safety measures are taken, CPAP machines can be used for nearly anyone in need of respiratory support, leaving the more invasive ventilators for those with severe conditions. In response to these safety concerns, the Pitlane team ensured that their CPAP model would use a tightly sealed, closed-circuit design that uses extra tubing dedicated only for nostril inhalation. This type of design prevents leakage and contains airflow within the system. Another goal of the project was to make the device both simple and efficient, allowing for rapid production and versatility in the field. The design uses a simple, streamlined flow-generator system that allows for easy use and titration. These systems use what is known as the “Venturi effect” to draw in air from the environment in order to create a consistent, high-output flow of oxygen-enriched air. A system of valves is then used to adjust the pressure and oxygen concentration according to patient needs and preferences. By keeping the design simple and reliable, the team has created a CPAP device that is not only effective, but adaptable for multiple uses. And by keeping the information public, project organizers hope to spread the knowledge to healthcare professionals throughout the world, helping to improve access to quality care and treatment by ensuring that manufacturers everywhere can continue to develop these important, life-saving devices in a time of need.