69416The Oxygen Cell ProjectClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UK_Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam says the requirement for oxygen for coronavirus patients is extremely high and a "logistical challenge" particularly in care homes and ambulances. There have been "one or two reports of where something has gone slightly wrong with an oxygen supply"_ BBC News 10-Apr-20\. Hospitals are reliant on a limited infrastructure for distributing compressed oxygen for treatment of Covid-19\. The oxygen is stored in large central tanks and distributed by fixed pipework. Normally this pipework is only installed into operating theatres and intensive care wards. Extra wards are urgently being converted -- but the installation of new pipework delays this work. Bournemouth and other hospitals have reported freezing of oxygen pressure regulators as exceptional flow rates are demanded, beyond the capacity of their distribution systems. The situation is especially difficult in care homes as they lack the plumbing and tank installations to supply continuous oxygen. Instead portable oxygen cylinders are used -- which need to be frequently exchanged or recharged. Latent Drive Ltd are developing a compact Oxygen Cell to supply oxygen to individual respirators, drawn from the atmosphere -- entirely independent of the normal hospital supplies. We apply existing Electro-Chemical Compression technology in a novel way, using methods developed in other applications. This technology is inherently compact and efficient compared to traditional compressors, and is suitable for a small portable unit. The immediate need is to meet the UK government _Rapidly manufactured ventilator system specification_ for gas and electricity supply, with a self-contained device that can be plugged into existing hospital ventilators. The Oxygen Cell is different to an oxygen concentrator as it will directly plug in to any ventilator, using NHS standard quick connect couplings, and provide pure oxygen at 4 bar. The project will progress rapidly from prototype and into production using 3D printing techniques to make parts without delays for tooling. In the longer term we are seeking partnerships with established ventilator manufacturers to make an integrated portable product -- which will be self-contained and provide its own oxygen supply. This will be ideally suited to care homes which do not have the infrastructure to supply oxygen. News Update Nov 2020: Latent Drive Ltd have been awarded further support from Innovate UK under the Extension for Impact program. This enables us to engage with the approvals and testing process for UK medical equipment, and explore exemptions to speed up the process. We can now develop our business plan with production costings, and seek further funding for commercial production in volume. This grant extension moves the Oxygen Cell Project forward, bringing us closer to use in our Hospitals, Clinics and Care Homes, supporting patients and staff through the ongoing pandemic.