Moroccan Military Engineers Develop Artificial Ventilator to Combat COVID-19

The production of this ventilation system intended for people affected by the virus, was developed at the Institute for the Treatment of Weapons and Ammunition in Benslimane. The goal of the project is to produce a system "capable of providing a sufficient amount of air infiltrating the patient’s body and releasing carbon dioxide, while ensuring operational safety and exemplary control".

The FAR stated that they can supply the product to national institutions "through local raw materials and at very reasonable prices", in order to achieve national self-sufficiency in these devices. The development team of the system is composed of doctors, engineers and technicians from the fourth bureau of the Royal Armed Forces. It ensures that in terms of performance, the proposed system is designed to "ensure continuous operation for at least fourteen days".

As for the mode of use, the engineers indicated that "the resuscitator chooses the ventilation mode then sets the inspired oxygen fraction and the tidal volume per respiratory cycle". As soon as it is started, "the system performs a self-diagnostic routine to ensure the proper functioning of its compartments".

Several ventilators can be monitored by a single operator via a single interface. This functionality makes it possible to reduce contact risks and reduce the workload of medical personnel.