The Problems of the Interfaces of the ICU Mechanical Ventilators Evidenced by Covid-19

ABSTRACT

With the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple transformations succeeded, including the demand for ICU mechanical ventilators, the main equipment to meet the most serious manifestations of the disease. The mechanical ventilators companies, however, were unable to respond to the new volume of orders due to logistical, manufacturing, design and financial problems. Emphasizing the scope of ergonomics, works published within the last 15 years that analysed the interfaces of respirators were reviewed, and, as a result, it was possible to verify the various failures of human factors existing in mechanical ventilators. The pandemic scenario, because of the observed consequences, highlighted the importance of a good interface, as well as the simplification of design, which can bring advantages not only for moments of crisis but also for the common hospital routine. It was concluded that, due to their aptitudes, human factors and design are vital disciplines for proposing solutions to the project problems of respirators highlighted during the pandemic. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.