The biotechnology company ZTM INNOVATIONS, which has previously carried out inspections of medical devices, is now committed to the manufacture of technologically advanced ventilators. These complex devices are manufactured at the company's plants in Warsaw and Poznań, among other locations. The advantage of the devices developed is that they feature numerous systems for monitoring their proper functioning, as well as modern pneumatic components. The ventilator has the following options, among others: CPAP – (continuous positive airway pressure) Supports breathing in cases of respiratory failure. PEEP – (positive end-expiratory pressure ventilation) Focuses on limiting oxygen enrichment in the breathing gas mixture. CMV – (continuous mechanical ventilation) Continuous ventilation of the patient. SV – (supportive function) Used when the patient is unable to breathe independently. SIMV – (combination of spontaneous breathing and mechanical ventilation). The device is set from above to a specific respiratory rate that the patient should maintain. The forced breaths adapt to the patient's effort and improve minute ventilation. Why a Polish ventilator? The idea behind the development of the first Polish ventilator is to make Polish healthcare facilities independent of external, long-term supplies of consumables for medical devices by offering a high-quality ventilator produced domestically at a reasonable price. Tests and certifications of the first series of devices are currently underway. Where did the idea for the ventilator come from? The idea arose from a desire to help Polish hospitals and respond to their needs, as they often lack important, life-saving equipment. We took a number of measures and consulted with experts. At this point, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the doctors and paramedics for their kindness and assistance in working on our project, which significantly reduced the development time of the first Polish ventilator. What was the most difficult part? The most difficult thing was working under the enormous time pressure that prevailed in the face of the prevailing pandemic. Another major challenge was organising the work of the individual teams through physical meetings in compliance with safety regulations and organising remote work for the individual experts, involving many hours of video conferences and telephone calls. Another demanding step was the need to develop a complex algorithm responsible for the proper operation of the device. Here, one of Poland's best scientists, Dr Wojciech Kotłowski, a specialist in the field of artificial intelligence and an employee of the Poznań University of Technology, offered us his help. Piotr Śledziewski, M.Sc., an experienced biotechnologist and electronics engineer who has been working with us for many years, was responsible for implementing the project and selecting the components. Thanks to his work, the individual parts used in our ventilator could be precisely selected.
