The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Friday, May 7, that its newly developed prototype mechanical ventilator can be used by both infants and adults.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said OstreaVent II was developed by the agency’s Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) in partnership with the Breath of Life Foundation Inc.
“It can be used by both infant and adult; it is both pressure- and volume-controlled; it measures tidal volume, and it has bacterial and viral filters,” he said during his weekly report on Friday.
He noted that the clinical trial for the OstreaVent II "will start as soon.”
OstreaVent II used the technology of its predecessor, the OstreaVent I, which is for infant use only, he said.
De la Peña said it was in June last year when the OstreaVent II prototype was completed.
Since August 2020, OstreaVent II has undergone a series of performance and calibration tests by third company Medical Equipment Healthcare Group, Inc. (MedEquip). The ventilator eventually got the nod of MedEquip and received the Certificate of Medical Device Listing (CMDL) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March this year.
The CMDL refers to the authorization issued for a medical device that is intended for research, clinical trial, exhibit, donation, among others and that is not intended for sale.
The University of the Philippines Manila Research Ethics Board (UPMREB) approved OstreaVent II’s Safety Trial Protocol in July 2020.
"After the clinical trial, five units of the OstreaVent II will be produced: four will be used for field testing, one will be used for further design improvements. If all activities will proceed as planned, licensing and production may begin by November this year,” de la Peña said.