Prisma Health collaborates with University of South Carolina on ventilator expansion device

A collaborative effort involving Prisma Health, the University of South Carolina and Clemson University has resulted in emergency use authorization for a ventilator expansion device to support multiple patients during times of acute equipment shortages such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. The effort aims to save lives at a time when the nation may face a critical shortage of ventilators in the near future.

Prisma Health announced Wednesday that it has received the authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for VESper™, a unique ventilator expansion device that allows a single ventilator to support up to four patients. Produced using 3D printing technology, the device is developed with material already in use for medical devices and produced at minimal cost.

Drawing on the strength of Prisma Health’s existing academic partnerships, specifications for the new device were sent to engineers at the University of South Carolina for 3D materials testing and printing of prototypes. The team began working to secure FDA approval, and collaborations with private sector businesses came together within a matter of days.

Prisma Health experts are working with national COVID-19 teams that have no more ventilator capacity and can initiate emergency use of the prototype. Prisma Health will be working closely with these teams during field testing to monitor clinical outcomes. Those field tests will determine whether the device performs as designed, per FDA guidelines.

Read the full story from University of South Carolina here.

To see the full list of inventors and contributors, including those from USC and Clemson, click here.