Ventec Life Systems
American medical device company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ventec Life Systems is an American medical device company based in Bothell, Washington.
 | |
| Industry | Medical devices |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1 January 2012  |
| Founder | Doug DeVries |
| Headquarters | Bothell, Washington |
| Key people | Jim Alwan (Chief executive officer) Chris Brooks (Chief strategy officer) Doug DeVries (Chief technology officer)[1] |
| Products | VOCSN |
| Website | www |
History
Ventec Life Systems was founded in Bothell, Washington,[2] a suburb of Seattle, by Doug DeVries.[3] According to the New York Times, Ventec is known for its VOCSN model, which received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in 2017. The VOCSN is the size of a large toaster oven, and combines a number of functions that had previously been performed by several machines to pump air into the lungs, suction out secretions, and produce oxygen when a central oxygen line is not available. It is used in critical-care hospital units and in home care.[4] DeVries was inspired to develop the VOCSN model after his father was diagnosed with ALS.[3] Jim Alwan is the CEO[5] and Chris Brooks is the Chief Strategy Officer.[6]
VOCSN
Ventec developed the VOCSN unified respiratory system, which is a portable personal medical device that includes a ventilator, 6 L/min portable oxygen concentrator, cough assist, suction, and nebulization therapies for the patient.[7] The name of the device is an acronym derived from the names of these five functions.[8] It received FDA approval in April 2017[9] and began to roll out in 2018.[10][11] The device weighs about 18 pounds.[12] It is designed for use by both children and adults to treat conditions such as muscular degeneration, spinal cord injury, and underdeveloped lungs.[13] As of 2017, it was medically cleared for use in the US and Japan.[14] According to NBC News, its ventilators are transportable and include advanced data monitoring, as well as internal controls to make the most of oxygen consumption. The five-in-one technology compresses 55 pounds of equipment into 18 pounds, and it has a nine-hour battery life.[15]
COVID-19 support
On March 21, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, General Motors announced a partnership with Ventec to produce ventilators.[16] The partnership was expected to build 10,000 ventilators per month at GM's facilities in Kokomo, Indiana, using Ventec's VOCSN platform.[17][18] Ventec is one of 12 worldwide manufacturers of ventilators.[19] The partnership between Ventec and GM quickly received a $489 million contract to deliver 30,000 VOCSN Critical Care Ventilators to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.[20] The first critical care ventilators were delivered to medical professionals that month, producing one ventilator every seven minutes in an effort the New Yorker called a "fighter jet in a race with prop planes".[21][22][23][24] Fast Company named the partnership one of "Top 10 Most Innovative Joint Ventures" in 2020.[25]