Renfrewshire firm’s ventilators will save lives during pandemic
New kit to be used in hospitals and care homes
A Renfrewshire firm is spearheading the fight against coronavirus by manufacturing a new patient ventilator system.
James Fisher Defence ( JFD), of Inchinnan Business Park, has answered the call from the UK Government to produce life-saving medical equipment for frontline NHS staff who are swamped with Covid-19 patients.
The new system, called the Invicto ventilator, has been tested and is ready for use in hospitals, care homes and healthcare centres as medics battle to save their patients.
Health experts have hailed the device as a key weapon in fighting the infection, which has struck more than one million people around the world, leaving over 50,000 people dead.
Professor Philip B James, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Dundee, said: “The modular design of JFD’s ventilator provides real flexibility from a simple approach to further intervention depending on the severity of each patient.
“Critically, JFD has manufactured its product based on an existing ventilator design, which was proven and qualified for medical use in hyperbaric chambers.
“Fundamentally, we know that it works and can make an immense difference to patients that are suffering from Covid-19.”
The Renfrew firm – experts in engineering diving equipment – developed the apparatus following extensive testing in its breathing laboratories.
The new kit provides an enhanced breathing function and can be used in a pre-critical temporary ward or care home, as well as extending to full hospital ward capability, providing full ventilation support with patient monitoring, breathing gas and O2 management and alarms.
It also uses less oxygen than other systems as the Covid-19 pandemic has placed tremendous strain on resources in NHS hospitals.
Giovanni Corbetta, JFD managing director, said: “Since the global outbreak of Covid-19, JFD has been working around the clock, utilising all of our experience in developing breathing apparatus and life support equipment to design the best possible solution for patients, doctors and healthcare authorities around the world.
“As well as basing our design on a proven medical ventilator device, a key part of this project has been to take into account the likely pressures on O2 supply.
“Our core purpose as a company is to protect lives.
“So, we are delighted that we have been able to use and transfer some of our experience into helping and, hopefully, alleviating some of the pressure that all the amazing health workers are under on the frontline in battling this pandemic.”
JFD said the new kit was designed in line with the latest government recommendations and standards based on clinical care experience in China and Italy.
We know it works and can make an immense difference to patients that are suffering Covid-19