Mr. Majid Kaddoumi

Medtronic drops the intellectual property rights of its ventilators

President Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa at Medtronic

Mr. Majid Kaddoumi

“The global crisis needs a global response”

In a unique and generous initiative, Medtronic, the most renowned ventilator manufacturer, has dropped the intellectual property rights for one of its ventilators to openly share the design specifications to enable participants across industries to evaluate options for rapid ventilator manufacturing to help doctors and patients dealing with COVID-19. 

We would like to shed light on Medtronic’s unique and generous initiative in terms of dropping the intellectual property rights of its ventilators.

Medtronic acutely understand the need for ventilators as life-saving devices in the management of COVID-19 patients. We know this global crisis needs a global response. Over the past few weeks, we have ramped up production of our Puritan Bennett™ 980 ventilators. We have doubled the number of shifts in the manufacturing of these products and are working with our suppliers to secure the needed raw materials. But we know we can do more to help. Therefore, Medtronic is publicly sharing the Puritan Bennett™ 560 (PB 560) design specifications, to enable participants across industries to evaluate options for rapid ventilator manufacturing to help doctors and patients dealing with COVID-19. This decision is consistent with the recent FDA Guidance and in accordance with the public health and medical response of governmental agencies globally.

Medtronic is sharing its portable ventilator design specifications and code for free. Manufacturers and innovators may consult these files as part of the larger effort to combat and overcome the impact of COVID-19. Our goal is to help others develop ventilators to fight this pandemic.

How will sharing designs with countries to start manufacturing more ventilators contribute to fighting COVID-19?

All interested individuals and organizations can get the design requirement documents, manufacturing documents, and schematics for the PB560 at Medtronic.com/openventilator after signing the terms and conditions acknowledgment. Manufacturers and innovators may consult these files as part of the larger effort to confront and overcome the impact of COVID-19. Our goal is to help others develop ventilators to fight this pandemic.

Would you please tell us about the specifications of this device and its importance for patients with severe infection to fight COVID-19?

PB560 ventilator is a compact, lightweight and portable ventilator that provides ventilation support for both adults and children. It can be used in clinical settings and at home and provides mobile respiratory support. Ventilators play a critical role in the management of patients with severe respiratory illness, such as COVID-19, who require assistance because they cannot breathe effectively. By placing a patient on a ventilator, the patient’s lungs are permitted to rest and recover while the ventilator performs the functions of supplying oxygen and simulating the actions of breathing. Without ventilation support, some patients with severe respiratory disease might not survive.

Over the past few weeks, you have ramped up production of Puritan Bennett™ 980 ventilators. What is the importance of this step to support the world in its fight against this virus?

Medtronic has increased production by more than 40 percent to date and is on track to more than double its capacity to manufacture and supply ventilators in response to the urgent needs of patients and healthcare systems across the globe confronting COVID-19. Medtronic acutely uderstand need for ventilators as life-saving devices in the management of COVID-19 patients. 

No single company will be able to fill the current demands of global healthcare systems. However, with all manufacturers increasing their production and through partnerships with governments, hospitals and global health organizations, Medtronic is committed to getting more ventilators into the market and to the right locations in the world to help doctors and patients dealing with COVID-19.