Ericsson’s R&D and Supply teams are helping Getinge, a global provider of healthcare solutions, modernize key components in its life-saving ventilators as well as increasing production capacity.
While the majority of people who get sick from COVID-19 will not need hospital care, for the small percentage that do, advanced ICU ventilators – or machines that help patients breathe – can save their lives.
As the demand for ventilators increased, Getinge, a global supplier of mechanical ventilators, was faced with the challenge of ramping its production 160 percent during 2020. With R&D and supply teams based in the same region of Sweden, Getinge reached out to Ericsson’s local Product Development Unit Transport for help.
Together with Getinge, the Ericsson team identified several areas where improvements could be made. For example, the gas modules that Getinge was using were vulnerable to disturbances in production and material availability so the Ericsson team helped to modernize and re-design two control boards for the gas modules – key components in all mechanical ventilators. Next the team assisted in the purchase of components while also helping to build test systems for increased production capacity.
Joakim Sorelius, Head of Development Unit Networks at Ericsson, says: “These are unprecedented times we are living in. The impact of COVID-19 continues to affect us all and our teams are working relentlessly around the world to mitigate the impact as best as we can. The cooperation with Getinge is a good example of how we can use our expertise in product design and apply it towards an important use within health and patient care.”
The control board re-design was finalized and Ericsson delivered 40 pairs of ventilator control boards end of May.
Lars-Gunnar Johansson, Project Manager at Ericsson’s Product Development Unit Transport in Borås, Sweden and the team’s leader says: “There was, of course, never any doubt that we would try to help. In the end, we designed two new boards from start to delivery in just six weeks, which is an extremely compressed production timeline. I am very proud of what the team was able to achieve.”
About Getinge
Getinge provides hospitals and life science institutions with products and solutions that aim to improve clinical results and optimize workflows. The offering includes products and solutions for intensive care, cardiovascular procedures, operating rooms, sterile reprocessing and life science. Getinge employs over 10,000 people worldwide and the products are sold in more than 135 countries.
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