A Saanich-based design company has joined the nation-wide effort to produce 30,000 ventilators to help Canada save lives during the pandemic.
On April 7, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that some 5,000 companies had come forward to assist in CanadaB次元官网网址檚 fight against the virus. He added that four ventilator initiatives will be undertaken by Canadian organizations B次元官网网址� including one led by StarFish Medical B次元官网网址� to produce up to 30,000 devices.
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StarFish is CanadaB次元官网网址檚 leading producer of B次元官网网址渉igh-technology medical equipmentB次元官网网址� and is headquartered in Saanich, said CEO Scott Philips. In March, the team was approached by the Next Generation Manufacturing Supercluster B次元官网网址� an Ontario-based, federally funded group that connects Canadian manufacturers with innovative technology B次元官网网址� to rapidly produce life-saving ventilators in the face of the predicted shortage.
just indicated govt of is working with here in to help Canadians during the pandemic!
B次元官网网址� Colin Plant (@ColinPlant2018)
Way to go (and thank you!) Star Fish Medical. Pic on left is in .
As there arenB次元官网网址檛 currently any mainstream ICU ventilator-producers in Canada, the StarFish team was then connected with a Winnipeg company led by renowned respiratory specialist Dr. Magdy Younes who developed a device called the Winnipeg Ventilator many years ago, explained Philips. The technology has already been used globally, he added, noting that the ventilators were even used in China during the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s.
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B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 really the visionary here,B次元官网网址� Philips emphasized, noting that Younes will be involved in the clinical aspects of the initiative.
B次元官网网址淲e are taking that technology from old prototypes and upgrading it to be produced in high volumes,B次元官网网址� Philips said.
The complexity of the ventilators has been reduced to they can be produced quickly and can meet the immediate needs of those with COVID-19. In late March, it was estimated that Canada had around 5,000 ventilators already across the country. StarFish is using the B次元官网网址減urpose-driven design for rapid manufacturing,B次元官网网址� Philips said, noting that he expects the ventilators could be in clinics by May or June.
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He noted the team B次元官网网址� including 25 Saanich-based engineers B次元官网网址� is working to complete two years of work in about a month. Conducting world-class engineering is what StarFish employees do for a living, Philips added, and producing these ventilators is now the top priority.
As StarFish doesnB次元官网网址檛 have the capacity to manufacture what Philips assumes will be a 7,500-ventilator quota B次元官网网址� a quarter of the 30,000 goal B次元官网网址� much of the production will be done by manufacturers in Manitoba and Ontario.
B次元官网网址淢aking things that sustain life is high-risk,B次元官网网址� Philps said, pointing out that itB次元官网网址檚 a B次元官网网址済reat honour and responsibilityB次元官网网址� to be involved.
HeB次元官网网址檚 grateful for the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 leadership and said the StarFish teamB次元官网网址檚 spirits are high.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like weB次元官网网址檙e the generals about to ride into battle,B次元官网网址� Philips said.
B次元官网网址揥ith files from Katya Slepian
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