The Reason UK Doesn't Need Ventilator Dyson Spent $25 Million Creating

Despite the rising number of infections and deaths, the UK appears to have the ventilators it needs. Part of the reason may be that, with experience, alternatives have been found, especially given the grim statistics from New York and Italy which reveal that as many as 80% of victims using ventilators died anyway.

But the larger revelation may be the degree to which entrepreneurs around the world have been able to innovate so quickly and successfully. JL


Kim Lyons reports in The Verge:

The company, best known for its vacuum cleaners, said last month it had an order from the UK government for 10,000 of the breathing machines and developed one. After spending about $25 million on the project, Dyson says the UK government doesn’t need the ventilator. The company founder,said he did not regret the time and resources put into the ventilator effort. “Mercifully they are not required. I have some hope that our ventilator may yet help the response in other countries."

After spending about $25 million on the project, British technology company Dyson says the UK government doesn’t need the ventilator it developed to help treat COVID-19 patients, Reuters reported. The company, best known for its vacuum cleaners, said last month it had an order from the UK government for 10,000 of the breathing machines and developed one it called the CoVent.

Dyson was awaiting regulatory approval for the design of the CoVent, reportedly built in 10 days using the company’s existing motor technology. The bed-mounted, portable ventilator is able to run on battery power if necessary.

Ventilators are needed to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients, many of whom suffer from severe respiratory symptoms. Other companies— including GM, Ford, and Tesla—shifted to developing ventilators over the past several weeks as demand for the devices increased.

James Dyson, the company founder, said he did not regret the time and resources put into the ventilator effort. “Mercifully they are not required,” he said in a statement adding, “I have some hope that our ventilator may yet help the response in other countries, but that requires further time and investigation.”