Emergency ventilation device developed in record time

In the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spanish multinational GPA Innova has developed an emergency ventilation device in record time.

While hospitals all over the world are focusing on saving the lives of those most affected by the COVID-19 disease, the Spanish multinational company GPA Innova has developed a new device to automate manual resuscitators. The new Respira is designed to automate BVM- and AMBU-type manual resuscitators, supporting and monitoring them automatically.

The Respira device, unlike other prototypes that are being developed, has extra features that allow personalized monitor patients’ variables. It can be controlled remotely, which means easier management for hospital staff. The device is portable and has a robust design.

Monitoring air and oxygen supply

The device includes the necessary electronics to remotely control and monitor variables like the frequency and volume of air and oxygen supplied to the patient with technology provided by Siemens. A central control station allows up to 16 devices to be managed and monitored simultaneously through its own Wi-Fi network.

Production schedule of 1,000 units per week

As soon as the Spanish medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency AEMPS approved the device, production began. GPA Innova estimates that it will initially be able to produce between 150 and 200 units per day, up to 1,000 units per week, and will progressively increase production to 300 units daily. The company is now going to offer training and assistance to health professionals to facilitate its use in the hospitals that require it.

In order to guarantee continuous ventilation over a long period of time, a reliable power supply is the most important premise. GPA Innova therefore requires a solid basic power supply that does not allow any compromise in quality and reliability. The SITOP lite power supply series meets this high requirement and offers all functions at a reasonable price.

In addition to the indispensable reliability, the small required space is a decisive factor. The narrow width and low heat loss allow the SITOP lite to be installed without lateral spacing, making a compact design of the ventilator possible. If the ventilator needs to be used in other supply networks, the SITOP lite’s wide range input with manual switchover allows connection to a wide variety of single-phase supply networks.

Siemens was able to provide GPA Innova with the much-needed SITOP power supplies in a very short time. This allows the company to quickly manufacture the life-saving ventilators for medical facilities.

GPAInnova is a multinational company headquartered in Barcelona that specializes in metal-surface finishing machinery and is conducting a project that uses innovative aquatic drones (USV, Unmanned Surface Vehicles) for various tasks. GPA Innova has a team of 80 staff with more than 25 engineers and achieves sales of €5.9 million (2019).

​In April 2020, GPA Innova launched the Respira device to automate and remotely control resuscitation bags designed to manually assist breathing.

The Respira device automates manual breathing devices (BVM or AMBU) that are widely used in medical centers, and can automatically and continuously support patients. This means that Respira expands the number of respirators that can function without the need for continuous and manual actuation by medical staff. This supplements the respirators typically used by medical teams. It’s a machine that saves lives by controlling and monitoring the parameters necessary to assist human respiration.