DoD Uses 3-D Printers to Ease COVID-19 Ventilator Shortage

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The Illinois RapidVent, a gas-powered, hand-held ventilator, is roughly the size of a water bottle. It was produced by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory in Champaign, IL. Due to its size and portability, the ventilator may also be ideal for soldiers in battle beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Illinois RapidVent, a gas-powered, hand-held ventilator, is roughly the size of a water bottle. It was produced by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory in Champaign, IL. Due to its size and portability, the ventilator may also be ideal for soldiers in battle beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 29, 2020 | Originally published by U.S. Department of Defense on May 11, 2020

Developers from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) are collaborating with civilian partners to manufacture low-cost, emergency ventilators using 3-D printers.

The handheld gas ventilator, dubbed the Illinois RapidVent, is roughly the size of a water bottle. Due to its size and portability, the ventilator may also be ideal for soldiers in battle beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, said Tonghun Lee, a Champaign, Illinois-based ARL researcher.