Medtronic aims to double ventilator manufacturing capacity

Medtronic said 18 March it plans to more than double its capacity to make and supply ventilators to fight the global pandemic.
Medtronic, an industry leader in respiratory care and device innovation, said that they had already increased production by more than 40 percent and were on track to more than double its capacity to manufacture and supply ventilators.
The company said it recognizes the acute need for ventilators as life-saving devices in the management of COVID-19 infections. High-performance ventilators play a critical role in the management of patients with severe respiratory illness, such as COVID-19. Without ventilation support, some patients with severe respiratory disease might not survive.
“Medtronic recognizes the demand for ventilators in this environment has far outstripped supply,” said Bob White, executive vice president and president of the Minimally Invasive Therapies Group at Medtronic. “No single company will be able to fill the current demands of global healthcare systems. However, with all manufacturers increasing their production and through partnerships with governments, hospitals and global health organizations, Medtronic is committed to getting more ventilators into the market and to the right locations in the world to help doctors and patients dealing with COVID-19.”
Medtronic produces high performance ventilators for a variety of care settings, including the acute segment (in-hospital patients in intensive care units, emergency departments or on the general care floors) and the sub-acute segment (out of hospital, long-term care facilities or home-ventilated patients).
Medtronic manufactures the Puritan Bennett 980 (PB 980) and Puritan Bennett 840 (PB 840) high performance ventilators in Galway, Ireland, which are primarily designed for critically ill patients in high acuity setting, such as some Covid-19 patients.
In the company’s Ireland ventilator manufacturing facility, the company currently has over 250 employees dedicated to ventilator manufacturing and plans to more than double that number, including transferring staff from other Medtronic sites to support ramp up activities.
Ventilator manufacturing is a complex process that relies on a skilled workforce, a global supply chain and a rigorous regulatory regime to ensure patient safety.
Medtronic said it is prioritizing high risk/high needs areas for ventilator allocation on a weekly basis for global distribution through its supply chain. Covid-19 is a dynamic global issue, and Medtronic will continue to monitor the situation.