Low-cost Fitbit ventilator gets approval for COVID-19 treatment
The Fitbit Flow automatic resuscitator, says the company, was developed using its deep in-house expertise in advanced sensor development and hardware design and was inspired by the MIT E-Vent Design Toolbox and based on specifications for Rapidly Manufactured Ventilation Systems. The ventilator has been approved for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for use during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
“COVID-19 has challenged all of us to push the boundaries of innovation and creativity, and use everything at our disposal to more rapidly develop products that support patients and the health care systems caring for them,” says James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit. “We saw an opportunity to rally our expertise in advanced sensor development, manufacturing, and our global supply chain to address the critical and ongoing need for ventilators and help make a difference in the global fight against this virus.”
Fitbit Flow builds on standard resuscitator bags, like those used by paramedics, with sophisticated instruments, sensors, and alarms that work together to support automated compressions and patient monitoring. The device is designed to be intuitive and simple to use, potentially helping to reduce the strain on specialized staff who are typically needed to operate a commercial ventilator. While other similar emergency ventilators vary in the combination of features they offer, says the company, it believes that none delivers all of the attributes of its device at the same lower price range.
The company says it aims to leverage its vast infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities that currently produces millions of Fitbit devices per year to produce large volumes of these emergency devices quickly. The goal is to supply these devices to health care systems around the world that do not have a sufficient number of traditional commercial ventilators. Fitbit Flow is designed to be used only when a traditional commercial ventilator is not available.
During development and testing of the ventilator, the company consulted with Oregon Health & Science University emergency medicine clinicians caring for COVID-19 patients at OHSU Hospital and worked with the Mass General Brigham Center for COVID Innovation working group on the design to meet the needs of practitioners. The company says it is in talks with state and federal agencies to understand current domestic needs for emergency ventilators and plans to work with U.S. and global aid organizations as well, both today and ahead of any future waves of the virus.
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