How Ajax Systems engineers repair failed ventilators

Due to the nature of the disease COVID-19, one of the most sought-after medical devices was mechanical ventilation - a ventilator. They are in Ukraine, but as it turned out, there are hundreds of faulty devices in the country, all of which require restoration. HR Brand Manager Ajax Systems Maria Naumenko told how the company's engineers repair faulty devices.
Why did you decide to help with the restoration of mechanical ventilation

It turned out that in Ukraine there are hundreds of failed ventilators. We did not wait until someone solves this problem, undertook to help financially and with our technical capabilities. But it turned out that not everything is so simple.

Some hospitals cannot give us ventilation for prevention due to bureaucracy. Others suffer from supplier companies that issue heavy checks for ventilator repairs. So, dozens of faulty devices are sent to hospital warehouses, where they are simply stored for years. They seem to be there, but they are not.

The problem is that mechanical ventilation is a medical device. Service manuals are not freely available. And the price of error in case of incorrect operation of the device is human life. To save mechanical life - he needs a specialist.
The specifics of ventilation restoration

The main problems that we encountered are the incorrect assembly of devices in the hospitals themselves, faulty power supplies, boards and sensors, lack of consumables.

    One of the devices was improperly assembled in a hospital in which it was already used. It was necessary to calibrate it, correctly assemble the patient circuit, replace the battery. We all did it, now everything works.
    The second did not supply air, his oxygen sensor was faulty. With the fact that he did not supply air to the system, we managed to reconnect the valves - they simply stuck. We ordered the sensor and waited for delivery for almost 2 weeks. But already this ventilator was sent to the hospital.
    The third came with an inoperative power supply and an evaporator. We replaced the power supply, restored the evaporator. The evaporator is a special flask that heats the water, and the vapor is fed into the breathing tube to moisturize the lungs while breathing.
    Two more devices came with faulty power supplies, electronics boards, temperature sensors. We have restored everything we could. Missing components ordered and expect delivery. As soon as they arrive, we will give back two more serviceable ventilation.
    We have an apparatus in which the patient’s contour is completely cracked. We reprinted it on a 3D printer. In the near future we will understand the viability of our 3D prints. Further we will test their behavior. And if everything is ok, then we can restore another car.

Components in Ukraine (their absence)

There are no components in Ukraine. And if there is, then they cost a lot of money. Not even all manufacturers of mechanical ventilation have them in stock. For example, the same oxygen sensor - it cost $ 44 3 weeks ago, today we are fighting to pick it up at $ 180 per unit, competing on the international market with other countries.
What's next

We have 16 devices in line. The budget for the purchase of oxygen sensors for them is approximately $ 8,000. Next, we replace all the batteries - they are also absolutely non-working. Exhalation sensors will be needed, and this is about $ 300, that is, another $ 15,000. Another of the hospitals was engaged in the search and purchase of components for 45 devices. To date, we have spent less than 40,000 hryvnia and restored 5 devices.

Each ventilator needs engineering expertise. Sometimes even finding the cause of a breakdown turns into a quest. For the purposes of the project, we invite point specialists who are able to work with ventilators of various manufacturers and configurations.