Collaborative Use of Lung Mechanics Simulation for Testing and Iterative Design for Three Emergency Use Ventilation Device Projects

Abstract

We describe our collaboration with engineering, clinical, and simulation colleagues to use a lung simulator (IngMar Medical ASL 5000) to aid in the development of 3 open-source ventilation devices for patients with COVID-19. Twenty-nine test conditions were created by programming software lung models of varying disease severity in the ASL 5000 to test basic functionality, safety features, and compliance with regulatory requirements for emergency use authorization for the 3 projects' prototypes. More than 200 simulations were performed, with the design team present to enable rapid troubleshooting and design iteration in real time. Working with 3 separate simultaneous ventilation device projects allowed us to rapidly learn from each, improving our ability to successfully collaborate with the different design/build teams. This project illustrates the role of simulation in facilitating collaborative innovation in health care, both in emergency and everyday settings that extend beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.