Adult Ventilator Project Update – April 23, 2020

Project Leader: Paul Rodgers, Assistant Professor, ME Department, College of Engineering, UP Diliman
Design Team: Paul Rodgers, Dr. Manuel Hernandez Jr, Dr. Edwin Quiros, Dr Carl Odulio

First test of adult ventilator with controls were conducted April 23, 2020. Controls feature touch screen
controls to indicate working parameters for the ventilator, such as air pressure, mixing tank pressure,
inhalation time and breaths per minute, and a set up screen to control PIP and PEEP alarms, and settings
for the control of the mixing tank pressure. The mixing tank will be used to mix oxygen and air and
humidify them. Mixing tank is set to PIP pressure and a feedback loop system will be used to maintain
the PIP pressure. Piping system used a ¾” PVC piping and temporarily assembled. A more permanent
assembly will now be made due to positive initial test results. Several methods for pressure relief were
tested: (1) water column (2) weighted valve (3) levered valve (4) spring valve. Spring valve is chosen for
simplicity and reliability and ease of adjustment. Some fabrication and adjustments are necessary for
these to be used within the proper PIP pressure range. Current source of air is a refurbished air
compressor, but tests using an oxygen tank will be done next.

Fig 1 Test set up, adult ventilator Fig 2 Controls on prototyping board

Fig 3 Display during operation Fig 4 Set up screen