PRESS RELEASE
White Plains, New York (Friday, April 10, 2020) — Safe Flight Instrument Corporation of White Plains, NY announced today it has developed and manufactured a 3D printed 4-way ventilator splitter.
For nearly 75 years, Safe Flight has been a leading innovator of aircraft safety, performance and control systems. A New York-based company, Safe Flight has developed a product designed to increase the patient-availability of scarce mechanical ventilator hospital assets. Michael Lambton, a Mechanical Design Engineer at the company, discussed the need with a relative who is a medical doctor. He described an emerging need for additional ventilator capacity.
Working with a support team that included production, quality assurance, supply chain and engineering, Michael designed a device, called the Quad/Vent Splitter, and printed prototypes that were successfully evaluated by two independent hospitals – all within two weeks.
“Having both the technical ability and support from our company made me feel an obligation to contribute in any way I could. The company’s ability to rapidly reconfigure its people and processes to tackle this dynamic problem has been nothing short of inspiring,” said Michael Lambton.
The Quad/Vent Splitter can allow up to four patients to receive artificial lung ventilation using only one ventilator. It is designed with four independent ports which may be stopped using the tethered splitter plugs, allowing a single-patient use of a ventilator or a 2-way, 3-way, or 4-way split configuration, multiplying the number of patients who can receive support, when there are insufficient ventilators available for each patient.
Upon receiving EUA approval (which is pending), Safe Flight will deliver splitters to the hospitals that have been participating in the trials, as well as make the design available under license – which will broaden the production capabilities to companies with 3D printing capabilities.
The Quad/Vent Splitter is undergoing approval under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) issued March 24th. The EUA addresses concerns relating to insufficient supply and availability of FDA-cleared ventilators for use in healthcare settings to treat patients during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
About Safe Flight
Safe Flight Instrument Corporation, a leader in aviation safety and flight performance systems, was founded in 1946. Headquartered in White Plains, New York, the company pioneered the development of Stall Warning and Angle of Attack, Automatic Throttle Systems, Wind Shear Warning, and many other innovations in aircraft instrumentation, flight performance and control systems for fixed and rotary winged aircraft. In the helicopter market, Safe Flight produces Powerline Detection and Tactile Cueing systems. The Tactile Cueing System allows the pilot to literally “feel” their way around the helicopter’s safe operating envelope of engine and drivetrain limits.
Safe Flight’s products are installed on over two-thirds of the world’s aircraft in the general aviation, corporate, commercial and military sectors. To find out more, please visit www.safeflight.com.
CONTACT:
Catherine Garros
cgarros@safeflight.com
(914) 220-1170
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