Extreme E to partner with QEV Technologies to distribute Q-Vent battery-powered respirator 16.04.2020: Off-road electric racing series Extreme E is to work in partnership with engineering company QEV Technologies, to distribute its Q-Vent respirator, developed and manufactured in tandem with Hospital de Sant Pau, Nissan and Eurecat technology centre.

Off-road electric racing series Extreme E is to work in partnership with engineering company QEV Technologies, to distribute its Q-Vent respirator, developed and manufactured in tandem with Hospital de Sant Pau, Nissan and Eurecat technology centre.



The respirator is designed to be used in hospital ICUs to alleviate a global lack of automatic conventional respirators caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its design is intended to contribute to supplying emerging countries, with reliable, flexible performance, ease of use and accessibility to all markets.



The portable, 22-kilogram device is developed by QEV Technologies and the Research Institute of Hospital de Sant Pau - IIB Sant Pau. It automates a resuscitator, manually assisting patients’ breathing.



Q-Vent has already been authorised by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) to be used in clinical investigation and has been tested in the facilities of the Research Institute of the Hospital de Sant Pau - IIB Sant Pau (Barcelona) with excellent results.



Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “Everyone around the world, in business and our communities, is currently asking themselves, ‘what skills can we bring to the table in the fight against coronavirus? Our talented partners at QEV Technologies, alongside Hospital de Sant Pau, Nissan and Eurecat, have found an incredible way to direct and utilise their expertise to help make a difference to those who are in urgent need around the globe. 



“Our championship will visit a number of emerging countries that, as is the case in many nations worldwide, are currently suffering shortages of conventional respirators. Using our network and commercial relationships, we will focus all of our attention on supporting QEV Technologies with the distribution of this device to those countries.



“The hard work QEV Technologies, Nissan, Eurecat and Hospital de Sant Pau have done in innovating, testing and building the Q-Vent device is admirable and we will help in any way we can to widen its use and make a difference to those in remote communities, developing nations and field hospitals.”



Manufacture of the Q-Vent will begin this week at Nissan's engine and gearbox plant in Zona Franca. Nissan’s engineers have developed the production process for serial manufacturing, with a capacity of 180 units per day.



“Since the beginning of the epidemic, we assumed the challenge of developing a low-cost portable system that could reach all corners of the world, especially those emerging countries where the Covid-19 was going to cause a great damage and where the majority of the patients were not going to have access to respirators. And thanks to everyone’s effort and desire, this has been possible”, explains Miguel Valldecabres, CEO at QEV Technologies.



Eurecat has advised on the design and production of selected components, as well as managing the process for the inclusion of hospitals in the clinical study, as is the case of the Althaia Foundation (Hospital Red Asistencial Universitaria from Manresa).



Q-Vent allows control of frequency, pressure and volume of oxygen supplied to the patient and includes a security system with audible alarms and an internal auxiliary battery that provides emergency battery support in the event of a mains power failure.


 


Julia Fry, Sean Leach,  photos Extreme-E