Springer Mechanical Ventilation Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Guide for Physicians and Engineers

The surge in COVID-19 cases leading to hospitalizations around the world quickly depleted hospital resources and reserves, forcing physicians to make extremely difficult life-or-death decisions on ventilator allocation between patients. Leaders in academia and industry have developed numerous ventilator support systems using both consumer- and industry-grade hardware to sustain life and to provide intermediate respiratory relief for hospitalized patients. This book is the first of its kind to discuss the respiratory pathophysiology underlying COVID-19, explain ventilator mechanics, provide and evaluate a repository of innovative ventilator support devices conceived amid the pandemic, and explain both hardware and software components necessary to develop an inexpensive ventilator support device. This book serves both as a historical record of the collaborative and innovative response to the anticipated ventilator shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic and as a guide for physicians, engineers, and DIY'ers interested in developing inexpensive transitory ventilator support devices. From the Back Cover The surge in COVID-19 cases leading to hospitalizations around the world quickly depleted hospital resources and reserves, forcing physicians to make extremely difficult life-or-death decisions on ventilator allocation between patients. Leaders in academia and industry have developed numerous ventilator support systems using both consumer- and industry-grade hardware to sustain life and to provide intermediate respiratory relief for hospitalized patients. This book is the first of its kind to discuss the respiratory pathophysiology underlying COVID-19, explain ventilator mechanics, provide and evaluate a repository of innovative ventilator support devices conceived amid the pandemic, and explain both hardware and software components necessary to develop an inexpensive ventilator support device. This book serves both as a historical record of the collaborative and innovative response to the anticipated ventilator shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic and as a guide for physicians, engineers, and DIY'ers interested in developing inexpensive transitory ventilator support devices. Provides a qualitative appraisal of numerous transitory ventilator devices developed and/or used during the COVID-19 pandemic including non-invasive ventilation; Explores the mechanics, considerations, and concerns of emergency ventilator components; Provides a detailed framework for beginners and experts alike to develop their own emergency ventilation systems. About the Author Amir A. Hakimi, MD, is a resident in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience at the University of California, Los Angeles. He then graduated from Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. During medical school, he became involved in clinical and translational research under the mentorship of Dr. Brian Wong. Dr. Hakimi has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and he developed a medical application for the iPhone to expedite the diagnosis of ocular injury.   Thomas E. Milner, PhD, is Director of the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic and Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Surgery at the University of California – Irvine. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Colorado School of Mines, and his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona. Dr. Milner's research interests are in the fields of optical-based therapeutics and diagnostic imaging, biomedical optics sensors, and optical tomography. He has published more than 180 journal articles, holds 55 issued U.S. patents and has started two technology companies. Dr. Milner is a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering a