A team of experts from Arequipa-based
National University of San Agustin (UNSA) have designed a helmet for continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) —aimed at patients with COVID-19 and other respiratory problems who require oxygen— which may help them avoid intubation.
This helmet may replace a mechanical ventilator in patients with respiratory failure, thus preventing them to be intubated, as it provides a constant flow of oxygen into the nose while the patient is sleeping, creating air pressure to keep airways open.
CiteSoft Director Eveling Castro noted that the UNSA is ready to produce this equipment on a massive scale in order to meet the demand of public and private health care providers.
In addition, she emphasized that UNSA researchers conducted the study and 3D design of the components required to make the CPAP (helmet) and thus meet the needs of EsSalud for the treatment of patients.
EsSalud's ICU head Jose Merello explained that the aim of this health care entity is to assist patients in the best possible way, but also to design technology for the equipment that lacks it, and these ambitions were met with the support of the UNSA.
"The interesting part of it is that you imagine it and CiteSoft —of the UNSA— makes it happen. The objective was to manufacture the CPAP (helmet) with pieces that are available here in Arequipa, and not to depend on imports or external sources, as well as to make it low-cost," the ICU head stated.
For his part, UNSA Rector Rohel Sanchez highlighted that said university seeks more than quality education and development of knowledge to increase the number of international publications. One of its main goals is to promote the conduct of research to put it at the service of the population.
(END) RMC/MAO/RMB/MVB
Published: 12/2/2020