Intensive care ventilator

clinicalmedicalelectronic

Overview
In 2020, in response to the COVID‑19 crisis, Promation developed functioning mobile ventilator prototypes to support urgent clinical needs. Two prototypes were produced with a focus on safety, reliability and ease of use, and on a design that could be manufactured at low cost and scaled for broader production.

The Challenge
Faced with a projected shortage of ventilators, Promation collaborated with clinical partners (University Health Network — UHN, University of Toronto — U of T, Mackenzie Innovation Institute — Mi²) to develop a ventilator that could be delivered rapidly for clinical trials and ICU use. The objective was to produce a viable prototype quickly while meeting clinical requirements.

The Solution
Promation assembled a multidisciplinary team of designers, engineers and automation specialists to design, machine, program, build and test ventilator prototypes. Two functioning units were produced; the first prototype was completed over a weekend and delivered for initial trials days later. Iterative testing ensured clinical suitability and readiness for ICU evaluation within approximately two weeks.

The Benefit
The project produced a ventilator prototype designed for ease of manufacture and scalability, validated for reliability, durability, safety and user simplicity. This accelerated availability for clinical evaluation and potential wider deployment.

Open source and dissemination
Promation released design details and findings as open source so global teams could access, reproduce and build upon the ventilator design to support broader response efforts.

Technical characteristics / specifications

• Prototype type: Mobile ventilator prototype (open‑source, mass‑producible design)
• Number of prototypes built: Two functioning prototypes
• Development timeline: First prototype developed over a weekend; initial delivery and trials within days; ICU trials initiated within approximately two weeks
• Design priorities: Safety, reliability, durability, ease of use
• Manufacturing focus: Designed for ease of machining and scalable production at low cost
• Validation: Built and tested for clinical trials and ICU evaluation
• Collaboration: Developed in partnership with clinical stakeholders (UHN, University of Toronto, Mackenzie Innovation Institute)
• Availability: Design and findings released as open source for global use