Universitas Indonesia Unveils New Ventilator to Counter Covid-19

DEPOK, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s most eminent seat of higher learning is set to do its bit in the country’s fight against Covid-19. Universitas Indonesia (UI) has unveiled its new ventilator, which the university said is ready to take on the pandemic.

Codenamed Covent–20, the ventilator is the brainchild of a joint project between the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering. Researchers announced that the ventilator is good to go, after it passed clinical tests on humans.

Meeting health ministry's specifications

“The Indonesian Ministry of Health said the Covent–20 prototype passed CMV (Continuous Mandatory Ventilation) and CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) tests,” said Convent-20 team member Dr. Andi Ade Wijaya Ramlan in a June 17 press release.

Also read: People With Pre-Existing Conditions at Higher Risk of Coronavirus in Indonesia

“The CMV mode can be used for patients with difficulty breathing and need a machine to assist them,” said Ade. “The CPAP mode is used to provide oxygen for patients that are still conscious, yet breathe sporadically.”

Faculty of Medicine Dean Professor Ari Fahrial Syam hailed the development of Covent–20. “One of the reasons why people die from Covid–19 is the limited availability of ventilators,” he said. “We hope [Covent–20] can address this issue, and keep the death toll from rising.”

Set for production

UI spokesperson Amelita Lusia noted that Covent–20 is good to go, after it received the ministry’s approval. “[Covent–20 ] is in the final stages of production with our partners in the medical industry. We aim to produce 300 units for a start.” 

Also read: WHO Releases Indonesia Coronavirus Report

She added that funds for Covent–20 production will come from donations from companies and communities affiliated with UI’s Engineering Faculty Alumni Association.

The faculty noted that demand for the ventilator is already high.

“[UI] has received requests from 180 hospitals, both Covid-19 referral hospitals and those with emergency wards, for the ventilator,” said Engineering Faculty spokesman Muhamad Sahlan.

“Their distribution will be determined by their level of urgency and use, as well as the donors’ recommendation.” 

(Writer: Vitorio Mantalean/ Editor: Sandro Gatra)

Sources: 

https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2020/06/17/12551121/ventilator-buatan-ui-diklaim-lulus-uji-klinis-siap-didistribusikan-ke. 

https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2020/06/17/12594791/ventilator-buatan-ui-akan-diproduksi-300-unit-tahap-awal.