ABSTRACT
A reliable, portable and low-cost ventilator named "DEVEN" is designed and developed by scientists of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, RCI, DRDO-Hyderabad. This Ventilator is named as DEVEN-DRDO's Economical Ventilator. DEVEN has features comparable to high-end ventilators and would serve the requirements of a large number of ventilators under the present COVID-19 pandemic situation. Also, DEVEN being a portable ventilator can be used in field application using a portable air compressor and reservoir. Hence, it can be used in an ambulance, any mobile vehicle or for application in any remote/rural area. DEVEN has a micro-controller-operated solenoid valve-based design and is developed by tweaking existing technology being used for hot gas reaction control systems (HRCS), employed in attitude control of exo-atmospheric missiles. HRCS is achieved by actuating solenoid valves through a micro-controller to control the flow of oxidizer as well as fuel. Existing controllers being used for control of electro-mechanical actuators are tweaked for control of the above-mentioned solenoid valves for inspiratory as well as expiratory lines of DEVEN. Graphic abstract Keywords Portable ventilator · Solenoid valves · Controller · Pressure regulators Technology Developed a low-cost portable ventilator with precise measurement and control/adjustment of important patient parameters such as inspiratory pressure, respiration (breathe) rate, inhaling-exhaling (I:E) ratio, tidal volume, and percentage oxygen (FiO 2).
ABSTRACT
BackgroundThe prevalence and significance of digestive manifestations in COVID-19 remain uncertain. MethodsConsecutive patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were identified across a geographically diverse alliance of medical centers in North America. Data pertaining to baseline characteristics, symptomatology, laboratory assessment, imaging, and endoscopic findings from the time of symptom onset until discharge or death were manually abstracted from electronic health records to characterize the prevalence, spectrum, and severity of digestive manifestations. Regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between digestive manifestations and severe outcomes related to COVID-19. ResultsA total of 1992 patients across 36 centers met eligibility criteria and were included. Overall, 53% of patients experienced at least one gastrointestinal symptom at any time during their illness, most commonly diarrhea (34%), nausea (27%), vomiting (16%), and abdominal pain (11%). In 74% of cases, gastrointestinal symptoms were judged to be mild. In total, 35% of patients developed an abnormal alanine aminotransferase or total bilirubin level; these were elevated to less than 5 times the upper limit of normal in 77% of cases. After adjusting for potential confounders, the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms at any time (odds ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.76-1.15) or liver test abnormalities on admission (odds ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval 0.80-2.12) were not independently associated with mechanical ventilation or death. ConclusionsAmong patients hospitalized with COVID-19, gastrointestinal symptoms and liver test abnormalities were common but the majority were mild and their presence was not associated with a more severe clinical course