Bangladesh-developed ventilator 'VENTUS' successfully completes initial clinical trial
The ventilator successfully supported a patient's breathing for nearly two hours during its first clinical trial, though further testing and regulatory approval are required.
The initial clinical trial of VENTUS, a low-cost mechanical ventilator developed in Bangladesh, has been successfully completed at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital.
The ventilator was developed using local technology by a team led by Dr Asif Ur Rahman, ICU consultant at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital, Dr Sifayet Enam Swakkhar, a postgraduate trainee in cardiology, and engineer Bayezid Shuvo.
The clinical trial was conducted on a patient with the informed consent of the patient's legal guardian and in the presence of specialist physicians.
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The trial lasted for nearly two hours and was attended by the hospital's director, along with specialists in neuroanaesthesia, critical care medicine and other relevant disciplines.
During the trial, physicians closely monitored the patient's oxygen saturation, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, level of consciousness and other vital physiological parameters.
Following the trial, the patient's oxygenation and ventilation status were assessed through an arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis.
According to the development team, the preliminary results showed that the locally developed, low-cost ventilator successfully provided the expected respiratory support.
However, they said further large-scale clinical evaluations, safety assessments and regulatory approvals will be required to establish the device's long-term effectiveness and compare its performance with conventional imported ventilators.
"Our primary goal is to make ventilator support accessible to every critically ill patient in Bangladesh at an affordable cost," said Dr Asif Ur Rahman, one of the inventors and an ICU consultant at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital.
"After seven years of research, hard work and dedication, we have successfully completed an important milestone. With the support of the relevant authorities, we hope to complete the necessary scientific evaluations and regulatory approvals so that VENTUS can become part of the country's healthcare system," he added.
The development team said the next phase will include expanded clinical trials, technical validation, comprehensive safety assessments and completion of the required regulatory approval process before the ventilator can be introduced for wider clinical use.
