Shortage of medical ventilators during the COVID pandemic: Difference between revisions
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{{StubNotice | {{StubNotice}}'''Medical ventilator''' is a machine used in a hospital or similar setting to help a person breathe. They are used with severely ill patients who are sedated or in a coma. They are typically constructed of various sub-assemblies, such as a pump, and control electronics (which control breath frequency and volume, based on measurements and settings). When one sub-assembly fails, others may still be good. It is possible to connect working sub-assemblies from two compatible broken machines to make one working machine. | ||
Some manufacturers use [[Digital rights management]] controls, to control whether they will allow a repaired device to operate. Unlocking the DRM may also require internet access, making repair difficult in emergencies, or where internet access is difficult. | Some manufacturers use [[Digital rights management]] controls, to control whether they will allow a repaired device to operate. Unlocking the DRM may also require internet access, making repair difficult in emergencies, or where internet access is difficult. | ||
= | {{See also|ifexists=Medical equipment}} | ||
==Consumer-impact summary== | |||
*Loss of life, since fewer ventilators were available at a time of extreme need. | |||
*Increased cost of medical care (ventilators sitting idle awaiting repair, increased cost of repair). | |||
*Increased e-waste. | |||
=== | ==Incidents== | ||
== | ===Beginning of Covid-19 pandemic (2020)=== | ||
The Covid-19 pandemic created a sudden widespread demand for ventilators. Many healthcare facilities had repaired machines that were just waiting for a technician to come and unlock the DRM, but however, there were no technicians to help because of quarantine. Suddenly they all needed those machines working and couldn’t get them working. | |||
== References == | ==See also== | ||
*[[Online activation]] | |||
*[[Part pairing]] | |||
==References== | |||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
== Old content, to integrate. == | ==Old content, to integrate.== | ||
During the COVID crisis, manufacturers like General Electric, Dräger, Steris, locked down the supply of spare parts, software and repair manuals behind expensive certifications for technicians, and threaten | During the COVID crisis, manufacturers like General Electric, Dräger, Steris, locked down the supply of spare parts, software and repair manuals behind expensive certifications for technicians, and threaten | ||