Mexico receives prototype of mechanical ventilator developed by TU Delft

The Embassy of Mexico in the Netherlands received the prototype of a mechanical ventilator developed by TU Delft within the framework of its Project Inspiration. The prototype will be lent to the government of Mexico to support its efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The ventilator includes all the blueprints necessary for its design and manufacture, aiming towards local production of similar ventilators using supplies and materials widely available in the country.

The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send this prototype to the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán, in Mexico City, for their researchers to be able to use it for free over a period of two months. During this time, they will have the support of TU Delft’s research team to solve any questions and exchange perspectives about the local production of this type of equipment and its eventual utilization for the medical attention of critical patients, within the current sanitary contingency. Once the lending period concludes, the Mexican government will return the prototype to TU Delft.

Project Inspiration is part of TU Delft’s “Air for All” initiative, which has been implemented in a multidisciplinary way to bolster the development of easily-manufactured ventilators in order to increase the resources available and provide medical attention to critical patients in the Netherlands. Project Inspiration in particular focused on the development of a completely mechanical ventilator, whose manufacture and scale production can be set up easily. The project was inspired by the East-Radcliffe model facilitated by the Boerhaave Museum, which was used during the decade of 1960s. It was mainly developed during the critical peak in the Netherlands and the team at Project Inspiration decided afterwards to make publicly available all the information and blueprints regarding its production and operation, as well as to collaborate with universities and research facilities around the globe with the aim of promoting local production and innovation based on the original ventilator.

The National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán is part of Mexico’s Health Ministry and offers third level medical attention. Not only does this hospital has nationally and internationally renowned medical specialists to provide quality medical services, but they also carry out a wide scientific research agenda in different areas and specialties, with which they produce important developments for Mexican medicine. This Institute is at the front line in combating COVID-19, which is why it will greatly benefit from the collaboration with TU Delft through the lending of this prototype of mechanical ventilator, as well as the exchange of experiences as a result of its analysis and utilization. 

The lending of this mechanical ventilator prototype is an example of bilateral collaboration between Mexico and the Netherlands to face the COVID-19 pandemic, whose effects have been felt by both countries. Furthermore, it is an illustration of collaboration in research, scientific and technological development that unites the medical communities of the two countries and benefits their populations at both sides of the Atlantic. 

More information

Embassy of Mexico in the Netherlands
Contact:   culturales@embamex.nl
Twitter:   @EmbaMexNL
Facebook: @EmbamexPaisesBajos
Web:       https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/paisesbajos

Delft University of Technology
Contact: Dr. Gerwin Smit, Coordinator of Project Inspiration: contact@projectinspiration.nl
Web: https://www.projectinspiration.nl/