Renesas Electronics launches open source ventilator system reference design

     Renesas Electronics, the world's leading provider of semiconductor solutions, announced a new open source ventilator system reference design to help customers quickly design pre-installed circuit boards for medical ventilators. Many areas are experiencing a severe shortage of ventilators as COVID-19 infection rates continue to rise, causing hospitals to outstrip supply of equipment.

     Chris Allexandre, Senior Vice President, Internet of Things and Infrastructure Business Unit, Renesas Electronics, said: "To meet the serious challenges of the global fight against COVID-19, Renesas Electronics has launched the ventilator system reference design. With our broad product portfolio and extensive system design experience, we help our customers accelerate the development of medical ventilator systems suitable for home or hospital environments."

     Renesas engineers used a variety of open source ventilator solutions, including the Medtronic PB560, to come up with a three-circuit plate ventilator reference design that is easy to assemble. This design controls the tidal volume and the mixture of gases delivered to the patient while monitoring the patient's condition. Portable design with optional oxygen tanks. In addition, a humidifier is also supported on the intake channel of the ventilator to ease the patient's breathing and improve the comfort of long-term use.

     The reference design uses up to 20 Renesas IC products, including microcontrollers (MCUS), power supplies and analog ics, to implement many of the signal chains and electrical functions required for ventilators. The system includes a sensor board, a motor control board, and a communication board that supports Bluetooth® connectivity, allowing medical professionals to monitor multiple patients simultaneously from a tablet or other mobile device. Each board is equipped with a microcontroller (MCU) that monitors the status of the connecting board while controlling its specific task. The ventilator solution also provides a testing system for each function to facilitate regulatory review and ensure patient safety.