SBIR/STTR Award attributes
A large number of patients with viral respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 and SARS require respiratory support. Invasive ventilation is commonly used for these patients, but this requires equipment that is in limited supply in a pandemic and can lead to poor outcomes for many patients. Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) via a mask is an appropriate alternative treatment for many patients that can lead to better outcomes. This type of treatment can generally be performed using a CPAP or BiPAP machine, which are very common. However, for COVID-19 and other highly infectious diseases, NIV use is limited due to the risk of disease transmission through contaminated aerosols leaking around the mask seal. In the proposed program, we will develop an innovative mask for use with NIV that will eliminate leakage of contaminated air through the mask seal. This will allow widespread use of NIV therapy during a viral pandemic while protecting health care workers.
