ECMO is a bypass machine which allows the heart and lungs to rest by pumping and oxygenating blood outside the body. This method may be considered for patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 who are unresponsive to medical ventilators. However, there is lack of experience and constructive guidelines for using ECMO for COVID-19 induced ARDS. 

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for COVID-19

Due to the urgent, time-critical demand for medical ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic, engineers proposed various ventilator-splitting designs. However, ventilator splitting generally lacks standardized regulations and extensive testing, requiring careful design and clinical evaluation.

Ventilator Splitting Design Proposals for COVID-19

Due to ventilator shortages across the nation, biomedical engineers have been developing more efficient designs for medical ventilators and investigating alternative solutions to deliver oxygen to COVID-19 patients experiencing respiratory failure.

- Ventilator Splitting Design Proposals

- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)


Smith College

Johns Hopkins University

Medical devices encompass essentially all health care products that do not mainly use chemical (pharmaceutical) or biological (vaccines) approaches to diagnose, monitor, and treat patients with COVID-19. Examples include medical imaging, implants, bionics/artificial organs, and biomedical sensors.

- Medical Ventilators for COVID-19

- Medical Ventilator Alternatives for COVID-19

- Biosenors for COVID-19

- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for COVID-19

- CT imaging for COVID-19

- Prophylactic Dressings for COVID-19

- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Devices for COVID-19

Medical Devices for COVID-19

Khan NA, Akhtar J. Respiratory and ventilator management of COVID-19. J Pak Med Assoc. 2020;70(Suppl 3)(5):S60-S63. doi:10.5455/JPMA.23

(link not available)

Respiratory and ventilator management of COVID-19

Clarke AL, Stephens AF, Liao S, Byrne TJ, Gregory SD. Coping with COVID-19: ventilator splitting with differential driving pressures using standard hospital equipment. Anaesthesia. 2020;75(7):872-880. doi:10.1111/anae.15078
(link not available)

Coping With COVID-19: Ventilator Splitting With Differential Driving Pressures Using Standard Hospital Equipment

Ventilators supply air/oxygen mixture to coronavirus patients suffering from various levels of lung damage due to COVID-19. Existing ventilators vary in their designs and uses.

Medical Ventilators for COVID-19

Biosensors for COVID-19

According to the CDC, personal protective equipment (PPE) is used every day by healthcare personnel (HCP) to protect themselves, patients, and others when providing care. PPE helps protect HCP from many hazards encountered in healthcare facilities. However, the sudden surge in cases has lead to a spike in the demand for PPEs, leading to shortages all around the world.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and COVID-19

Imaging tests cannot be used as the only reliable diagnostic tool to detect infection due to its lack of sensitivity. However, it can be useful in medical settings with limited resources where the virus is prevalent.

- Chest Radiograph
- Ultrasound
- Computed Tomography

Radiographics Test / CT Imaging for COVID-19

The weight of the head is held up by the head; however COVID-19 patients placed in a prone position may experience pressure ulcers resulting from prolonged exposure/contact of the surface with the skin. Prophylactic dressing is a multi-layered silicone foam dressing which can be applied to the resting surface to relieve the stress and strain of the body weight on the soft tissue. This reduces the chances of a pressure ulcer especially for COVID-19 patients with low mobility. 

Prophylactic Dressings

CPAP devices deliver positive pressure in each cycle of respiration. The pressure facilitates the alveoli to remain open during exhalation, which is very helpful for oxygenation and easy breathing. The device is properly suited for the initial treatment patients having mild respiratory problems. 

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Devices for COVID-19

This node categorizes literature and references related to medical devices used during the COVID-19 pandemic, organized by their publishing journal or organization.

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