This news brief from the So. Md. Tech Port...
CALIFORNIA, Md. - As COVID-19 is continuing to affect the nation, more and more health facilities are dealing with essential support equipment shortages. After seeing the struggles medical facilities are facing, people begin to use their innovative ideas to help their local communities. Brandi Gerstner, an engineer with a background in biomedical research, and her colleagues have created a ventilator out of a breast pump to provide to medical services in need. The heart of this system is a common breast pump but slightly modified. The airflow is reversed with this breast pump, so the air is instead pushed out. After adding an Arduino controller to make it compatible for each individual patient, a standard ventilator is made. After seeing the ventilator shortage currently affecting the nation, Gerstner decided to push this idea out to help others in this challenging time.
People in the community were delighted with this innovative project. Dominic Fragman, a co-founder of Spirit of Innovation and Freedom, stated how remarkable he thought it is to see people work together on projects like this. "These people are coming together, on their own dollar, motivation, and interest, to make a difference. Doesn't matter if they are coming up with the idea, or conspiring together, the cooperation shows that the community cares." Alexandra Walker, TechPort Intern, expressed how wonderful she thought Gerstner's design was. "It's incredible! More and more of these projects are continuing to pop up. The innovation and collaboration show that people in the community are trying to help during this trivial time," Walker began. "We all have ways to contribute to a better future."
TechPort, operated under contract by the University of Maryland, is a technological incubator that targets startup and early-stage companies in unmanned and autonomous systems and commercialization of Navy technology. The incubator offers many services, such as developmental space and a general machine shop, but TechPort is also a creative workspace. TechPort provides the ability to connect with people in the community to make a difference. TechPort is becoming a community hotspot, where visionaries can collaborate, and new interesting ideas can thrive and grow.
To see new innovative projects and more, visit our website, www.techportsomd.org, or follow our social media at @TechPortUMD.
CALIFORNIA, Md. - As COVID-19 is continuing to affect the nation, more and more health facilities are dealing with essential support equipment shortages. After seeing the struggles medical facilities are facing, people begin to use their innovative ideas to help their local communities. Brandi Gerstner, an engineer with a background in biomedical research, and her colleagues have created a ventilator out of a breast pump to provide to medical services in need. The heart of this system is a common breast pump but slightly modified. The airflow is reversed with this breast pump, so the air is instead pushed out. After adding an Arduino controller to make it compatible for each individual patient, a standard ventilator is made. After seeing the ventilator shortage currently affecting the nation, Gerstner decided to push this idea out to help others in this challenging time.
People in the community were delighted with this innovative project. Dominic Fragman, a co-founder of Spirit of Innovation and Freedom, stated how remarkable he thought it is to see people work together on projects like this. "These people are coming together, on their own dollar, motivation, and interest, to make a difference. Doesn't matter if they are coming up with the idea, or conspiring together, the cooperation shows that the community cares." Alexandra Walker, TechPort Intern, expressed how wonderful she thought Gerstner's design was. "It's incredible! More and more of these projects are continuing to pop up. The innovation and collaboration show that people in the community are trying to help during this trivial time," Walker began. "We all have ways to contribute to a better future."
TechPort, operated under contract by the University of Maryland, is a technological incubator that targets startup and early-stage companies in unmanned and autonomous systems and commercialization of Navy technology. The incubator offers many services, such as developmental space and a general machine shop, but TechPort is also a creative workspace. TechPort provides the ability to connect with people in the community to make a difference. TechPort is becoming a community hotspot, where visionaries can collaborate, and new interesting ideas can thrive and grow.
To see new innovative projects and more, visit our website, www.techportsomd.org, or follow our social media at @TechPortUMD.