Medical group Smith & Nephew teams up with University of Oxford and King’s College London to build ventilators
Smith & Nephew has become the latest company to join the effort to build ventilators for the NHS.
The medical device group has teamed up with the University of Oxford and King’s College London to make a model called Oxvent, designed by a team of engineers, doctors and scientists.
If the Oxvent design wins approval from regulators at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority it will immediately begin manufacturing at Smith & Nephew’s Advanced Wound Management facility in Hull.
Smith & Nephew has partnered with the University of Oxford and King’s College London to make a new medical ventilator called Oxvent
The Government called on companies to build ventilators amid concerns the NHS could be overwhelmed by critical patients if the coronavirus spread among vulnerable groups.
It needs around 30,000, but has ordered far more in case any designs fail to gain regulatory approval.
Smith & Nephew chief executive Roland Diggelmann thanked employees who have been working to complete the new design.
He added: ‘We are proud to support this vital effort and help meet the ventilator challenge to ensure the NHS is equipped for treating patients with Covid-19.