Medical ventilators: Difference between revisions

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{{Delete|Forgotten about, no info.}}'''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.

== 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. Suddenly they all needed those machines working.

== See also ==

== References ==

== 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

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-{{Delete|Forgotten about, no info.}}
+{{Delete|Forgotten about, no info.}}'''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.
+== 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.  Suddenly they all needed those machines working.
+== See also ==
+== References ==
+<references />
+== 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