re: Covid 19, medical equipment shortage
@SouthernGothHick I'm torn between saying the problem is more nuanced than that, the bilateral ground-glass lung interstitials need to be cleared or it's a one-way ticket to ECMO... and just giving you a link to polio-age tech and saying here, knock yourself out.
What the heck. Go nuts.
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/diy-iron-lung/
re: Covid 19, medical equipment shortage
@Momentrabbit thanks for this...I wondered, given that the effects of polio are different than what we're seeing with COVID-19, if the traditional "iron lung" would work. I appreciate the clarification! :) @SouthernGothHick
re: Covid 19, medical equipment shortage
@hafnia @SouthernGothHick It's a valid question. Did some digging: negative-pressure ventilation - like iron lungs, or homebuilt 'wood lungs', wouldn't likely be of any use in this scenario. They depend on a patient having fairly healthy lungs. You're right. It seems a positive pressure system - a 'modern' ventilator - would be the minimum requirement.
Well, at least I found where *not* to start looking. n.n
re: Covid 19, medical equipment shortage
@Momentrabbit yeah, polio results in muscle weakness/paralysis without affecting the lungs themselves...the iron lung simply makes it easier to breathe by reducing the effort needed. Didn't think it would work here, but I'm a materials scientist, so... @SouthernGothHick