US digital print technology giant Xerox Holdings is teaming up with Vortran Medical Technology to rapidly scale up production of Vortran’s low-cost GO2Vent ventilator and Airway Pressure Monitor (APM-Plus) to help in the fight against COVID-19.
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| Vortran’s GO2Vent ventilator |
The companies aim to produce between 150,000 to 200,000 devices a month by June and could produce as many as one million ventilators in the coming months. Xerox plans to charge hospitals about $120 per unit.
“While the GO2Vent is not a replacement for ventilators found in intensive care units (ICUs), it is widely used in emergency situations, inter-hospital transport and MRIs,” Xerox said. “Given the shortage of ICU-grade ventilators, medical professionals are utilizing tools like this and other technology to support patients who do not yet or no longer need an ICU-level breathing device, which can be freed up for another patient.”
Xerox CEO John Visentin: “Our smartest minds met (virtually) with Vortran’s smartest minds and figured out how to mass produce this critical technology. We want to help make sure doctors, nurses and paramedics on the frontlines have the resources they need to help the rising number of patients with COVID-19.”
Xerox plans to manufacture the FDA-approved ventilators and APM-Plus devices at its facility outside of Rochester, NY. Vortran will continue to manufacture ventilators at its facility in Sacramento, CA.
“The partnership with Xerox has one clear goal – to help save as many lives as possible,” said Vortran CEO Gordon A. Wong. “With Vortran’s proven technology and Xerox’s ability to hyper-scale manufacturing, we believe we can supply healthcare providers as many as 1 million ventilators in the coming months. For all of us, this will be the most important thing we ever do.”
The deal will also give major manufacturers time to ramp up production of hospital grade ventilators. The American Hospital Association has estimated that 4.8 million patients will be hospitalized during the pandemic, with 1.9 million admitted to Intensive Care Units and 960,000 requiring ventilation. The total number of ventilators in the country is estimated at roughly 170,000.
Vortran’s GO2Vent was designed for emergency use, natural disasters and disease outbreaks. A gas-operated, disposable ventilator that can be set-up within minutes and discarded after use by a single patient, it provides support via a secure airway and can be operated on a compressor, oxygen or air with a minimum of 10 litres per minute flow rates.
The GO2Vent can provide continuous ventilatory support for up to 30 days and operates independent of Vortran’s APM-Plus. The APM-Plus is a battery operated, portable device that connects to a GO2Vent and provides enhanced monitoring of patient status and key respiratory parameters.
Both Xerox and Vortran will distribute the products.
