Engineers at Tesla have developed a prototype design for a ventilator. The company’s official YouTube channel on Sunday evening released a video showcasing the schematic design for the ventilator.
This development comes just weeks after CEO Elon Musk announced plans to reopen a Tesla factory in New York amid growing shortages of the device. Elon Musk aims to produce FDA approved ventilators for hospitals treating Coronavirus patients across United States.
For the production of this device, Tesla is utilizing the large stockpiles of car parts and machinery present already at the Tesla factory. This will enable the company to efficiently produce cost effective ventilators.
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As of now, the ventilators are still in the design phase, and the company is working day and night trying to produce large number of ventilators based on its prototype design. “There’s still a lot of work to do,” one of the engineers said in the video, “but we’re giving it our best effort.” According to Elon Musk, Tesla Inc plans to supply the ventilators free of cost to hospitals all over the country, once they start rolling out the finished products.
This particular design of ventilator differs from the traditional type used in intensive care unit (ICUs) to aid in patients’ breathing. Instead, it’s based on something called a Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure machine, which is used to treat sleep apnea. However, it has been approved by the FDA in the face of ventilator shortages.
Ford and General Motors starts production
Other companies such as the General Electric Company and Ford Motor Company have also come forward with plans to produce this critical healthcare device which is much needed to combat the increasing number of coronavirus in United States in particular and the world at large.
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Governments all over the world have appealed to automaker companies that they should start large scale production of ventilators and by doing so, aid Governments’ efforts to save lives.
Ford Motor Company announced it would make 50,000 units in 100 days, while General Electric expressed it could produce 30,000 ventilators a month if the need arises.