Mercedes-AMG F1 creates breathing aid to combat COVID-19

The Mercedes-AMG F1 team and University College London (UCL) have revealed a new breathing aid designed to free up beds in intensive care.

Created in less than week, the new device has been designed to deliver oxygen to Coronavirus sufferers without the need for a ventilator.

Reverse-engineering existing Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices, the Mercedes F1 and UCL device is claimed to feature an improved design, making it easier to manufacturer than existing CPAPs.

Mercedes-AMG F1 has delivering 40 of the new devices to UCL hospital and three other London hospitals, and says it will be capable of manufacturing 1000 CPAP per day, with production set to begin in a week's time.

The device has already been approved for use in the UK.

CPAPs work by feeding a steady flow of air-oxygen mix into the mouth and nose of patients, reducing the effort needed to breath when suffering the effects of pneumonia, a complication related to COVID-19.

The advantage of CPAPs, compared to ventilators, is they do not need the patient to be sedated to have a tube inserted into their airway.

The disadvantage is any small leaks around the mask could spray drops of mucous or saliva that could infect the treating staff with the virus.

Early reports suggest that in Lombardy, Italy, 50 per cent of patients given CPAP have avoided the need for more invasive ventilators.

Commenting on the new CPAP devices created by Mercedes-AMG, the head of the F1 team's powertrain division Andy Cowell said: "The Formula One community has shown an impressive response to the call for support… we have been proud to put our resources at the service of UCL to deliver the CPAP project to the highest standards and in the fastest possible timeframe."

Separately in the UK, a consortium of large-scale companies including Ford has joined forces to begin the construction of 10,000 ventilators for the government.