oxygen mask concentrator
Coronavirus disease (COVID19) a respiratory tract infection, started in China in Wuhan province in December 2019, and has rapidly spread around the world. Although most people develop only mild symptoms, approximately 19 % develop severe to critical disease requiring hospitalisation. Of these, approximately 14% need oxygen support and 5% require admission to intensive care, often requiring ventilator support. In Kenya. Most hospitals in Kenya do not have piped oxygen systems and limited oxygen concentrator equipment.
The aim of this six month project, which started on July 1st 2020 and is funded by the Open Society Initiative for East Africa, is to design, prototype and certify (through the Kenya Bureau of Standards) low-cost oxygen concentrators, for use in low resource settings as found in most African countries. The research team is led by Prof. Madara Ogot, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation and Enterprise, and a faculty member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, working with Dr. Richard Ayah, Director of the Science and Technology Park and a faculty member of the School of Public Health.
The prototypes, once designed and constructed, will go through rigorous internal testing before proceeding to extensive stakeholder testing working with healthcare professionals at Kenyatta National Hospital, then certification by the Kenya Bureau of Standards, concluding with broader clinical trials.
The project will also develop business models to ensure cost-effectiveness of the manufactured devices and their successful deploymentin the market.
