Forklift company does heavy lifting in meeting ventilator demand

A Monaghan forklift manufacturer has developed a device which turns one ventilator into multiple ventilation stations, and could prove a life saver for many people during the current Covid-19 emergency. Combilift, best known for its range of forklifts is the brains behind the Combi-Ventilate which is designed to address the requirements of medical professionals facing this unprecedented crisis. The Combi-Ventilate was developed by a team of mechatronic and software engineers in the past five weeks with a unit currently undergoing laboratory tests with Ger Curley Professor of Anaesthesia & Critical Care at Royal College of Surgeon’s in Beaumont hospital.

 

“Certain countries and cities are struggling to get enough ventilators and many governments and health authorities are encouraging manufacturers to come up with a solution, as did the HSE in Ireland. Instead of actually developing ventilators we analysed what is really required, as we do in our usual business models,” explained Martin McVicar, co-founder of Combilift.

The Combi-Ventilate uses standard pipes and fittings for easy assembly and its individual patient filters prevent cross contamination. Each patient has a dedicated screen which allows medical professionals to individually monitor their vital information. This includes live values, data on patient history and statistics and adjustable alarm settings. Features include non-return valves, HEPA filters, flow sensors and an automatic flow control valve. Any abnormalities that occur are detected and will only trigger that specific patient’s alarm.  

The Combi-Ventilate has automatically adjustable flow control valves which allow the health service professional control the tidal volume to each patient electronically without having to make manual adjustments.

“We have made Combi-Ventilate under the same ethos and with the same objective as we do with all our the Combilift products - which is all about doing more with less,” said Mr McVicar.

"The medical device sector is not our core business but making critical equipment which keeps people safe and alive has always been our focus and this latest project, driven by our desire to help during these difficult times, mirrors what our research and development has done for the last 20 years. If our product can save lives, if we can make a difference during these hard times then we are making the world a better place for everyone.”

The device was designed in collaboration with the HSE as an attachment which can be added to any brand of ventilator. It costs a fraction of a standard ventilator and can be installed very easily into an ICU unit environment.

"This is a not-for-profit activity which we hope will open up more opportunities for Combilift in the medical device area in future,” concluded Mr McVicar.

No surprise

Commenting on the project Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, said: “Combilift have had huge success all over the world because their number one priority is finding solutions. That’s why it should be no surprise to see them stepping up to the plate in our national and global effort to defeat COVID-19. Their hallmark as a company is innovation and adaptability, and this splitter device is testament to that. I would like to commend them on their wonderful achievement and wish them every success as they bring the product to market.

Dr Michael Power, National Clinical Lead, Critical Care Programme, National Clinical Programmes, Clinical Design and Innovation, Office of the Chief Clinical Officer, HSE said:

“The Combi-Ventilate is a safe and reliable attachment for ventilators for use in an ICU setting in that unwanted scenario where you have one ventilator for multiple patients. It removes that horrible dilemma. The Combi-Ventilate is safe and reliable. It is an engineered solution which delivers the correct volume of air to each patient and actually delivers the required amounts of air to each patient safely and reliably. The Combi-Ventilate project is an example of a collaboration between the engineering and the manufacturing industry and the Health Service Executive (HSE). It is an agile project which is completed inside of five weeks.