NASA has completed a critical test of a high-pressure ventilator designed to treat individuals suffering from the COVID-19 disease. Engineers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory developed the Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally in an effort to address the scarcity of traditional ventilators in the country, the space agency said Friday.
"When people at JPL realized they might have what it takes to support the medical community and the broader community, they felt it was their duty to share their ingenuity, expertise and drive," said Michael Watkins, JPL's director.
The critical test took place at New York's Icahn School of Medicine. New York is a COVID-19 epicenter. Watkins added his team specializes in non-medical technologies but excels in engineering, rapid prototyping and testing.
VITAL is designed for easier maintenance and faster construction compared to traditional ventilators. Caltech's Office of Technology Transfer and Corporate Partnerships is looking for manufacturers to produce VITALS with a free license.
