Imagine a world where insufficient financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, and unreliable power supplies no longer hinder medical care. This is becoming a reality with groundbreaking advancements like the PulmO2 10L oxygen concentrator and the LeVe CPAP system. These cutting-edge technologies are designed to overcome the unique obstacles faced in these environments, providing sustainable and efficient medical solutions. By harnessing the power of innovation, we can ensure better healthcare outcomes and a brighter future for all.
Delivering effective healthcare in environments with low resources faces many challenges. Some factors which may be detrimental to the provision of adequate healthcare in low resource settings include lack of sufficient financial resources, facilities and infrastructure; insufficient and/or inadequately educated and trained staff; lack of test equipment, manuals and spare parts; inappropriate equipment donations; large number of healthcare equipment out of service; unreliable power and water supplies; political instability and war.
At AHT2024, we shall be highlighting and discussing appropriate technological developments to meet these needs, and we will focus on Innovation, Design and Engineering. Case studies from the field, including those which experienced serious challenges, or even failure, can be instructive in helping future projects.
How the innovative Fit for Purpose Pulm02 10L Oxygen concentrator Addresses the Challenges of Delivering Efficient Oxygen Therapy in Low Resource Settings
Speakers: Amarpreet Rai. Managing Director, Sanrai International and Dirk Ritmueller, Category Director Respiratory Int'l. Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare.
Medical oxygen plays a vital role in the treatment of numerous health conditions, but traditional methods of delivering oxygen have failed in ensuring low resource settings have continual and sustained access to medical oxygen. Drive DeVilbiss and Sanrai International partnered to develop the PulmO2 10L oxygen concentrator, designed to be energy efficient, resilient, and adapted to a clinical environment. It is the first oxygen generating device in the world designed for low resource settings.
Translation of the LeVe CPAP system to Uganda for local production, maintenance and clinical use
Speakers: Pete Culmer, University of Leeds and Brian Matovu, Makerere University
Authors: Dr Robert Ssekitoleko, Brian Matovu1, Kigenyi Douglas, Dr Edith Namulema, Ms Racheal Musasizi, Dr William Davis-Birch, Dr Ian Waters, Prof Peter Culmer, Prof Nik Kapur
The LeVe Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) system has been developed to address critical needs in paediatric respiratory support in low resource settings. A third clinical study of LeVe CPAP was recently completed at Mengo Hospital (Uganda) for paediatric care, demonstrating clinical efficacy and wider demand from hospitals across Uganda to use the system in regular care.
This talk will discuss the translational pathway necessary to enable local manufacture and clinical deployment of the LeVe CPAP system in Uganda, encompassing plans for further clinical evaluation to support regulatory approval, local capacity building to support the advancement of local clinical evaluation and innovation within Uganda. This will provide a strong foundation to scale innovations like LeVe CPAP more widely across other LMICs
A journey of technical development: Fit-for-purpose oxygen concentrators for use in low-resource settings
Speakers: Miranda Dixon, Strategy and Evidence Lead, The Oxygen CoLab, Rita McIntyre-Panz-, Project Lead, The Oxygen CoLab, Brad B
The UK International Development funded Oxygen CoLab is a programme that exists to provide evidence about the use cases of oxygen concentrators, small scale devices and Oxygen-as-a-Service models in low resource settings. They have been driving industry towards innovation in oxygen concentrators since 2022, with the aim of accelerating the development and use of fit-for-purpose concentrators for low-resource settings. In this talk we will share our experience, and technical insights gained through exploring and solving for the technical deficiencies of oxygen concentrators used in low resource settings.