Calibration and Testing of the Integrated Ventilator Scalar Measurement Module for a Bag-Valve-Mask-Based Emergency Ventilator

Abstract

Open-source ventilators (OSVs) are considered as an immediate response for the shortages of ventilator equipment in hospitals due to the ongoing global pandemic caused by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). One of the designs explored for OSVs utilizes a bag-valve-mask as a source for mechanical ventilation. Despite its availability for use and being medically accepted, proper calibration must be observed in measuring ventilator scalars such as inspiratory pressure, inspiratory flow, and tidal volume to promote the safe use of the OSV and prevent OSV users to do more harm to the patient. This study discusses different calibration techniques to properly acquire ventilator scalar measurements using an integrated ventilator scalar measurement module. All in all, different calibration setups and bag-valve-mask-based mechanisms were tested and documented to determine an effective means to acquire accurate and precise ventilator scalar measurements.