Our Head of Engineering, Mr Fielding, has been collaborating with engineering staff from Lincoln Christ Hospital School and St Georges Academy to produce valves for CPAP devices used to treat Covid-19 patients at Lincoln County Hospital.
Experts have worked out that CPAP (sleep apnoea treatment) devices can be used for oxygen therapy on non-critical Covid-19 patients. If an individual with the virus is at the point where medical intervention is required but not quite at the stage where an invasive ventilator is needed, they can be placed on a CPAP device for approximately 24 hours receiving 60-90% oxygen. Patients have been shown to make a remarkable turnaround and full recovery as a result of this treatment.
Mr
Fielding responded to requests from United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust,
and has been using 3D printing equipment from the UTC to print small batches
of valves that allow the oxygen supply to enter the circuit of the CPAP device.
So far, he has donated 110 valves and has more in production.