Cuomo just announced they are using bi-pap machines as emergency ventilators

[getagrip_already]

Cuomo just said in his presser that one of the things nys is doing is converting bi-pap machines into emergency ventilators. He didn't give any details of how they are using them, but did say they don't have the output they need for the sickest patients. So they are probably using them up front, for the people who need something short of the most sophisticated support to take pressure off the supply.

He can't wait for new mfg capability since no new builds will be available in 7-21 days. They are in crisis mode.

Leadership matters.

[hlthe2b]

1. As long as they are able to breath with adquate lung expansion on their own, they can be

adapted/made to deliver supplemental oxygen, just as anesthesia machines can do.

Not optimal, but for the less severe of the most severe, it can help.

[Dream Girl]

2. Bi-pap?

[csziggy]

3. An advanced CPAP machine

Some medical problems can make it hard for you to breathe. In these cases, you might benefit from bilevel positive airway pressure. It is commonly known as “BiPap” or “BPap.” It is a type of ventilator—a device that helps with breathing.

<SNIP>

BiPap is only one type of positive pressure ventilator. While using BiPap, you receive positive air pressure when you breathe in and when you breathe out. But you receive higher air pressure when you breathe in. This setting is different from other types of ventilators. For instance, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) delivers the same amount of pressure as you breathe in and out. Different medical problems may respond better to BiPap versus CPAP.

More: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/bipap

[getagrip_already]

4. similar to a cpap - used to treat sleep apnia

They force air in and out of your lungs to keep your breathing passages open. If combined with a source of oxygen, like an oxygen concentrator, it can help someone suffering from pneumonia but who is still able to breathe independently (not intubated).

[Dream Girl]

5. Makes sense. Are there in plentiful supply?

[getagrip_already]

6. yes.. even on ebay

They usually need to be prescribed, but people sell used ones frequently. The same goes for oxygen concentrators, and the connectors to hook it all together are easily found.

There have been youtube vids out for some time describing how to put these together at home in case you get a die at home order..

[Dream Girl]

8. I have a cp machine I only used twice. I wonder if tat would be useful in any way

[FBaggins]

12. Probably not - differences between ventilators/CPAP/Bi-PAP

CPAP machines don't breath for you... they just pressurize the air to keep your airways from collapsing (most commonly when your muscles relax during sleep in "obstructive sleep apnea" ). You still have to be able to breathe on your own. I'm not sure how much help they would be for someone with respiratory distress, because while I guess it would be easier to breath in... you would need to be able to breathe out too... and that would be against pressure.

Ventilators actually breathe for you. A tube holds your airway open and it pumps air both in and out.

A Bi-PAP senses your breathing and actually pressurizes the breathe-in portion of the cycle at a higher pressure than the breathe-out portion. So my non-medical-degree guess would be that there could be some patients with lesser levels of respiratory distress who would see some benefit from a Bi-PAP as long as they could still breathe on their own. I would also guess that there are quite a few patients who might otherwise receive a ventilator who could get by with a Bi-PAP... but that there would still be a greater risk for them.

I've also read a couple of papers saying that both CPAP and Bi-PAP machines should be avoided because they can increase the spread of viruses.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Mine is under my bed. I wonder if it still works?

[getagrip_already]

9. here is a link with discussion of the conversion....

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005506/en/Northwell-Health-Converts-BiPAP-Machines-Ventilators-Hospitalized

Northwell Health Converts BiPAP Machines Into Ventilators for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients, Uses 3D Printed Adapter

To prepare for potential surge of coronavirus patients in need of ventilators, doctors and engineers designed 3D printed adaptor for use with common breathing machine

[FBaggins]

10. The IHME projects NY's peak ventilator demand to be just a week away

Too late for new production at this point.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

11. Not surprised actually

I was wonder if such was adaptable.

[Wounded Bear]

13. I think he mentioned this the other day...

they're pulling out all the stops. Might help patients in the early stages breathe.

[BrightKnight]

15. They need a DARPA like group to drive development and

manufacturing. Identify and support solutions and use and government money and resources to make it happen.