APPLES & ORANGES OF PRICE

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Like any product or service, the price for medical devices will vary from one country to another. For example, the price of a Toyota Sedan in Australia is going to be different from the price for the same Toyota Sedan in the United States or Europe due to a range of factors.

So why is this so for medical devices? Well let’s look at the top five factors influencing price:

  1. DIFFERENT HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS

The differences between healthcare systems from country to country, including different political, policy and economic drivers, has a significant impact on the price of devices. Countries, such the UK and Canada, that appear to have comparable healthcare systems to Australia are, when analysed in greater depth, actually quite different.

Let’s take Canada for example. Based on the OECD health expenditure statics (including PHI as a percentage of total healthcare expenditure and the proportion of population covered by PHI), Canada appears to have a similar healthcare structure to Australia’s. However, unlike in Australia, Canada does not have a private market for prostheses due to the fact it does not allow private health insurers to cover services provided by Canada’s public healthcare system, including hospital procedures that include prostheses.

In contrast, Australia’s healthcare system does allow for this, meaning there is a private and a public market for prostheses.

 PURCHASING ARRANGEMENTS AND MARKET SEGMENTATION DIFFERENCES

Purchasing arrangements for medical devices also vary from country to country. The greater a country’s level of market integration, the greater the capacity they will have to purchase devices at lower prices through improved economies of scale and market volume guarantees for MedTech companies.

For example, in Sweden, there is negligible PHI coverage of the population due to the fact Sweden’s healthcare system is integrated to a high degree with county councils being responsible for both the financing and organisation of healthcare services. Counties also own and operate most of the country’s hospitals. With a healthcare system that is essentially 100% publicly owned and operated, Sweden is able to centrally purchase prostheses through a small number of entities.

  1. DIFFERENCES IN VOLUME, MEDICAL PRACTICE AND PATIENT NEED

Some countries undertake certain procedures using medical devices more frequently than others. For example, according to the OECD Health at a Glance 2013, Germany conducts almost twice as many coronary angioplasty procedures per 100,000 compared to Australia – not to mention Germany’s population is four times that of Australia’s. This means the significantly greater volume of devices associated with coronary angioplasty procedures being required in Germany, compared to here in Australia, results in lower prices of those prostheses for Germans.

  1. DIFFERENCES IN ECONOMIES & GEOGRAPHY

Local economic costs can also add to the price difference for medical devices from country to country. Local costs in Australia such as wages, transportation costs (petrol, airfares), facility costs (coupled with the higher need for warehousing in Australia), currency fluctuation and exchange rates can all influence the price of devices.

Geographical considerations can also influence the price of medical devices. Australia’s isolated location, its low population density and vast land mass have a significant impact on the cost of importing devices and distributing them across Australia.

  1. LEVEL OF INDUSTRY SUPPORT SERVICES

The level of service required from a MedTech company can vary from country to country, and from one prosthesis category to the next. This can impact on the price attributed to a particular prosthesis.

For example, in some European countries, companies do not provide post-procedure follow-up technical support services for certain device types. Funding for these services is allocated to clinicians in the hospital with support from highly trained staff. Therefore, these services are provided with little support from MedTech companies. This is also the case in the Australian public healthcare system.

In contrast, the private markets in Australia, United States and in Japan for example, have a high demand for MedTech companies to provide support services. In Australia, the cost of this support over the life-time of a device is factored into the prosthesis’ benefit.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

First of 2,000 NOTUS emergency ventilators delivered to national medical stockpile

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Executive Chairman, Jefferson Harcourt said the $31.3 million federal government supply contract sees us now manufacturing at speed. “Assembly lines are up and running at Planet Innovation in Box Hill and Medmont International in Nunawading, as part of our expert network of manufacturers and suppliers.”

“We’ve seen ingenuity, resilience and extraordinary collaboration from our myriad of partners in meeting the challenges of our COVID-19 response… And we couldn’t have done it without the incredible support of the Australian government, the Victorian Government and the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre.” he said.

“Grey Innovation is very proud to have a led this amazing consortium of local companies to produce the NOTUS emergency ventilator to ensure every Australian who might need a ventilator, will have one.”

“Delivery of the first ventilators from the NOTUS project is a testament to the hard work and resilience of the Australian MedTech industry,” said Ian Burgess, MTAA CEO today.

“The impacts of COVID-19 have been felt across the entire healthcare sector and will continue well into the future, but despite these impacts, the Australian MedTech industry has pulled together in an unprecedented effort to support the Morrison Government’s pandemic response,” Mr Burgess said.

Federal Industry, Science and Technology Minister, Karen Andrews, said the agreement had helped Grey Innovation employ 22 new engineers with another 250 jobs created or retained across the suppliers.

“The local production of these ventilators is an outstanding example of what can be achieved when industry and government work together and draw on our highly advanced manufacturing capability”, she said.

“These ventilators are available to be sent anywhere they are needed in Australia and give us an impressive reserve capacity.

“Hopefully they won’t all be needed, but these machines will ensure that our hospitals are well equipped to withstand future surges in intensive care cases.”

The NOTUS Emergency Invasive Ventilator Program is a Grey Innovation-led initiative, supported by the Australian Government, the Victorian Government and AMGC.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Empowering Australians Through Health Literacy – Liz Carnabuci

Carnabuci[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Health literacy is a significant issue for Australia. Digital health literacy – the ability to seek, find, understand, and appraise health information from electronic sources and apply the knowledge gained to addressing or solving a health problem – is at alarmingly low levels in Australia. It’s been said that almost 60% of Australians aged 15–74 have a relatively lower level on health literacy.

Why is this important? Because, low individual health literacy is associated with higher use of health services, low levels of knowledge among consumers and variable health outcomes. It has been estimated that people with low individual health literacy are between one-and-a-half and three times more likely to experience an adverse outcome. In an industry focussed on alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life – it’s all of our responsibility to improve literacy levels.

But how much is appropriate? Low health literacy in Australia will not be addressed if people cannot find the local, accurate and relevant information they need to make informed decisions with their healthcare professional – and ultimately, of course, decisions lie with the clinicians.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care separates health literacy into two parts:

  • Individual health literacy – the skills, knowledge, motivation and capacity of a person to access, understand, appraise and apply information to make effective decisions about health and health care and take appropriate action.
  • Health literacy environment – the infrastructure, policies, processes, materials, people and relationships that make up the health system and have an impact on the way that people access, understand, appraise and apply health-related information and services.[i]

As an industry we can responsibly help shape the health literacy environment. It’s been estimated that one in every 20 Google searches is health related. Two in five Australians have used internet searches to avoid seeing a doctor (80% among 10-34), and 84% of people go online first for health information.

However, despite the high propensity to consume information, there is information asymmetry between providers and consumers. The consequence is an impact on decision making and reduced ability to access appropriate healthcare. This especially true of conditions which have an unfair stigma, or a complicated diagnosis pathway.

In an ecosystem where it is expected that companies will communicate with their customers and make information available, are we doing enough within the healthcare industry to promote accurate and relevant therapy-centric, community conversations on health? The way we adopt local advertising regulation holds the key.

To empower health literacy, advertising regulation must be consistent with the way consumers access and consume information – and we must adapt responsibly to it.  Responding to requests for information in public forums; engaging in public discussion; and, the provision of information to assist people make informed healthcare decisions are all part of a ‘brave new world’ to support consumers make informed decisions about their health. Ask yourself, are you doing enough to advance health literacy? How would you move this conversation forward – and let’s talk to improve health literacy for better patient outcomes.

[i] https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/patient-and-consumer-centred-care/health-literacy

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Liz Carnabuci is the Vice President of Medtronic Australasia and Vice President Diabetes for Medtronic APAC.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Australian MedTech research efforts boosted by $18.8 million

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The funding – which has attracted an additional $21.3 million in industry contributions – comes from the third round of the BioMedTech Horizons (BMTH) program, an initiative of the Medical Research Future Fund operated by MTPConnect.

MTPConnect Managing Director and CEO, Dr Dan Grant, says round three of BMTH focused predominantly on digital health innovations.

“We know that digital evolution continues to drive change across many aspects of healthcare so for this funding round we targeted support for SMEs and companies researching digitally-enabled medical devices in mobile health, health information technology, wearable devices, telehealth and telemedicine, and digitally-enabled personalised medicine,” Dr Grant said.

“From the 21 selected projects, patients of the future are set to benefit from new research into treatments and diagnostics for conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, stroke, paralysis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, brain injuries, back pain and chronic middle ear disease.

“In a highly competitive round, our independent and expert evaluation committee has selected projects in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and NSW.

“The $18.8 million we’ve allocated to these 21 projects has leveraged an additional $21.3 million in contributions from industry which means a total of $40.1 million is flowing into the healthtech sector.

“Through the BMTH program and the MRFF we are backing innovation and technological advancements in areas such as digital health solutions, medical devices, precision and regenerative medicine supported by advanced manufacturing and clinical trials with a vision of better health outcomes globally.

“Building home-grown translational and commercialisation capacity means boosting our knowledge economy and creating new products, jobs and potential exports. This is particularly important now considering the hit that our sector has taken dealing with the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.”

“MTAA is proud to be part of the BioMedTech Horizons program and supporting Australian innovation,” said Ian Burgess, MTAA CEO.

“The exciting technologies that are being supported by the BioMedTech Horizons program will contribute enormous value to the Australian healthcare system.”

The BMTH program makes funding available for SMEs to develop new health, biological and medical technologies to reach proof-of-concept so they are attractive for private capital investment and commercialisation. Further details about the 21 successful projects are listed below.

Round 3 recipients:

Anatomics Pty Ltd, Victoria, is developing digitally enabled skullcaps to monitor brain swelling in craniectomy patients to optimise timing of skull reconstruction surgery.

Anisop Holdings Pty Ltd, New South Wales, is developing a nano-optimised surface to prevent orthopaedic and dental implant infections.

Apollo Medical Imaging Technology Pty Ltd, Victoria, is developing an Artificial Intelligence-based clinical decision support software for guided acute stroke therapy.

Artrya Pty Ltd, Western Australia, is developing Artificial Intelligence methods for evaluating cardiac CT angiography and high-risk imaging biomarkers.

Atmo Biosciences Pty Ltd, Victoria, is developing an application of Atmo ingestible gas sensing capsule to diagnose Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).

Bionic Vision Technologies Pty LtdVictoria, is developing an implantable vision system and algorithm in their Bionic Eye Generation 3 device to restore functional vision for blind patients.

Carbon Cybernetics, Victoria, is developing a high-resolution cortical recording of the brain for the prediction and prevention of epileptic seizures.

Ear Science Institute Australia, Western Australia, is advancing the commercialisation of its ClearDrum® device, which is an acoustically-optimised silk fibroin implant for the treatment of chronic middle ear disease.

Ferronova Pty Ltd, South Australia, is working to improve colorectal cancer outcomes with hybrid cancer tracers.

HemideinaVictoria, is developing a miniature, low-energy wireless power and data transmission system for implantable medical devices.

Inventia Life Science Pty Ltd, New South Wales, is developing a 3D bioprinting system for intraoperative skin regeneration.

Merunova Pty Ltd, New South Wales, is developing an augmented digital re-construction and re-visualisation of spine MRI for the personalised diagnosis of back pain.

Miniprobes Pty Ltd, South Australia, is developing a smart brain biopsy needle for faster, safer neurosurgery.

Neuromersiv Pty Ltd, New South Wales, is advancing the commercialisation of its hand and arm wearable device for use with the Neuromersiv virtual reality rehabilitation system.

Northern Research Pty Ltd, New South Wales, is advancing the commercialisation of its PulseVAD pulsatile rotary blood pump that is designed to treat patients suffering from a form of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) for which, at present, there is no effective treatment.

OncoRes Medical Pty Ltd, Western Australia, is developing compact wireless technology for improvement in the accuracy during breast conserving surgery.

Optiscan Pty Ltd, Victoria, is developing its non-invasive confocal endomicroscopy system to enhance oral cancer screening and surgical margin assessment.

Seer, Victoria, is developing personalised epilepsy treatment via mobile and wearable monitoring.

Synchron Australia Pty Ltd, Victoria, is advancing the commercialisation of its Stentrode; a minimally-invasive brain-computer interface being designed to enable people with paralysis to restore functional independence by engaging in activities of daily living such as email communication, text messaging and online shopping, by controlling apps and external devices through thought alone, and without requiring open brain surgery.

VenstraMedical Pty Ltd, New South Wales, is enhancing the development of a transcatheter blood pump system for Cardiogenic Shock and Hemodynamically Compromised patients.

Zip Diagnostics, Victoria, is establishing domestic capabilities for combined R&D and manufacture of point-of-care diagnostics.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Edwards Lifesciences a finalist in five HR Awards categories

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This is the fourth year that Edwards has been recognised; this year, across five separate categories, up from one in 2019.

The winners will be announced on Thursday 3rd of December 2020.

Managing Director of Edwards Lifesciences ANZ and Korea, Pat Williams said:

“This is a fantastic achievement to be a finalist in five categories, which shows the strides we’ve made and the culture we’ve created locally. At Edwards, we aspire to excel as a trusted partner, fostering an inclusive culture where all employees grow and thrive.

“During these challenging times we have seen our employees having a laser focus towards our patient-centered Credo and every week we come together to celebrate those achievements.

“Our HR team deserves the recognition for delivering training and professional development programs across our ANZ organization.”

The finalists for some of the Australian HR Awards for 2020 is below.

Australian HR Awards finalists announced

Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors (ABLA) Australian HR Champion (CEO) of the Year
Annette Kimmitt, MinterEllison
Belinda Scott, Djerriwarrh Health Services
Hugo Schreuder, Youi Insurance
John Burns, VetPartners
Michael Azrak, MSD
Patrick Williams, Edwards Lifesciences
Richard Deutsch, Deloitte Australia
Simon McGrath, Accor Pacific

Randstad Australian HR Director of the Year
Fiona Reed, La Trobe University
Hannah Bloch, Gold Coast Health
Ivan Pierce, Youi
Julie Harris, VetPartners
Manon Pietra, PHD
Tash Macknish, Data#3
Yolanda Mallouhi, Edwards Lifesciences
Zahra Peggs, TSA Group

Best Health & Wellbeing Program
Camden Council
Data#3
Edwards Lifesciences
Johnson & Johnson
McDonald’s Limited
Mondelez
NSW Ambulance
QBE Insurance Australia’
Sanofi
Singleton Council

Employer of Choice (1-99 Employees)
Corporate Technology Services
DBM Consultants
Edwards Lifesciences
ghd hair
Howden Australia
PerformHR
Total Image Group

Achievers Best Reward & Recognition Program
Edwards Lifesciences
Employsure
Gold Coast Health
Insight
National Disability Insurance Agency
Youi[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The NOTUS Ventilator Program Update

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ventilators are being developed for the NOTUS Emergency Invasive Ventilator Program led by Melbourne-based Grey Innovation.

With the TGA audit of Grey Innovation and the two final assembly lines at Planet Innovation in Box Hill and Medmont International in Nunawading competed last week, the company is now at the point of refining the production process and bringing the line up to speed. Grey Innovation says they are on track to manufacture patient circuit and consumables locally through Fairmont Medical.

Electronics manufacturer Circuitwise Electronics, a member of the Australian consortium of companies developing the ventilators was front and centre during a ABC News broadcast that saw General Manager, Serena Ross, interviewed by the ABC at Circuitwise’s facilities where the printed circuit board assemblies were being manufactured.

The focus of the ABC’s reporting was not just on the ventilator program but also on the efforts underway to raise awareness of local manufacturing capabilities.

Speaking to the ABC’s Western Sydney reporter Kathleen Calderwood, Ms Ross said she was pleased to be able to represent a range of other companies in the electronics sector that can provide advanced manufacturing services to Australians companies looking to go #AustralianMade.

“We are just one of over 2,000 companies that put their hand up to help. In electronics, we have shown we are now competitive with Asia by investing in advanced technology and rigorous quality systems to enable manufacturing of high-reliability products like medical devices,” Ms Ross said.

“There will be many other companies in other manufacturing sectors that raised their competitiveness and now warrant a closer look from companies that have blindly assumed that they should go offshore. These companies should realise that the new #SmartMove is to manufacture in Australia.”

While restrictions around Australia are being eased, the consortium is working to help boost the national stockpile to ensure there is always a ventilator available to patients in the future.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES EMPLOYEES BECOME SUPERHEROES FOR HEARTKIDS

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Super Boss Day is a fun initiative to help raise funds for HeartKids, the only national charity dedicated to supporting all infants, children, young people and adults affected by congenital and acquired heart disease. The causes of this disease remain largely unclear.

In Australia, 8 babies every day are born with congenital heart disease. Funds go to supporting our brave children who battle heart disease every day and their families who fight along-side them.

The Edwards Lifesciences Foundation has had a long-standing partnership with HeartKids as part of its commitment to making a difference in communities where Edwards’ employees live and work, and during this COVID-19 period the Foundation has been generous by doubling the contribution from its employee.

Managing Director of Edwards Lifesciences ANZ, Pat Williams said:

“At Edwards we like to have some fun on our Friday all employee video call. This week we wanted to give everyone some extra motivation, so we came dressed up as our favourite superhero and if possible, make a contribution towards a great cause.

“Our commitment to charitable giving and participation in philanthropic causes is one of the defining elements of our culture and I’m pleased that we exceeded our target.

“Locally, we’re proud that 97% of our employees undertook volunteering activities in our communities last year with an aspiration of 100% participation each year.”

CEO of HeartKids, Rob Lutter said:

“The Edwards Lifesciences Foundation has been a generous supporter of HeartKids for many years, in the form of donations, grants and support of our campaigns and events. We look forward to that ongoing partnership.”

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NEW REAL-WORLD DATA FROM MEDTRONIC GLOBAL SYMPLICITY REGISTRY SHOW RENAL DENERVATION LOWERED BLOOD PRESSURE IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION OUT TO THREE YEARS

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The study showed RDN led to significant and clinically meaningful reductions in blood pressure that were sustained out to three years post-procedure (17 mmHg OSBP (office systolic blood pressure)), with more patients achieving BP below 140 mmHg, while those at very high BP levels experiencing drops into lower risk BP ranges. The number of patients at the very highest BP level – greater than 180 mmHg systolic at baseline – dropped by two-thirds at three years. Additionally, the number of patients who had reported office systolic BP less than 140 mmHg – a more controlled level of BP – increased from 13 percent at baseline to 39 percent at three years. The BP drops occurred while patients were prescribed an average of four or more anti-hypertensive medications, which remained unchanged over three years. The absence of increase in medications suggest that RDN’s effect was independent of anti-hypertensive medication burden. RDN continued to show a strong safety profile at three years with an incidence of renal artery stenosis of 0.3 percent, which is within the expected range for patients with hypertension not undergoing denervation.

“In the largest real-world study of patients receiving renal denervation, we are seeing significant and clinically meaningful reductions in both office and 24-hr blood pressure sustained out to three years post-procedure, which demonstrates the durability of RDN,” said Felix Mahfoud, M.D., cardiologist at Saarland University Medical Center in Homburg, Germany, who presented the data during the meeting. “These data reinforce that RDN is a viable, complementary option with positive effects on hypertensive patients without requiring an increase in medication burden over time.”

The Global SYMPLICITY Registry is the largest study documenting the long-term safety and effectiveness of the Medtronic renal denervation systems in a real-world setting in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. To date, the registry has enrolled more than 2,860 patients treated with RDN and includes three-year follow-up for more than 2,500 patients. The data presented at PCR closely mirror a recent manuscript of GSR data published in JACC, which reported that RDN showed lasting results in a variety of high-risk patients, including those with diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), or resistant hypertension.

“Following the positive SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED Pivotal data presented at ACC, these new data provide additional evidence on the safety and efficacy of renal denervation to help manage uncontrolled hypertension, with study patients experiencing meaningful blood pressure reductions out to several years,” said Dave Moeller, vice president and general manager of the Coronary and Renal Denervation business, which is part of the Cardiac and Vascular Group at Medtronic. “As the body of clinical evidence supporting renal denervation grows, we are encouraged by the outcomes observed in both controlled clinical trials and real-world practice.”

Hypertension is the single largest contributor to cardiovascular death; it dramatically increases risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure. The annual direct costs of hypertension are estimated at US$500 billion worldwide. It is estimated that almost 20 percent of patients are completely non-adherent to oral medications while nearly half are partially non-adherent, highlighting the need for alternative treatment options.

In addition to the Global SYMPLICITY Registry, the Medtronic SPYRAL HTN Global Clinical Program includes the SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED PIVOTAL and SPYRAL HTN-ON MED Trials, both prospectively powered, randomized, sham-controlled studies evaluating patients with uncontrolled blood pressure in the absence and presence of prescribed anti-hypertensive medications respectively.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Growing Australia’s PPE capability

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Kestrel Manufacturing is receiving $495,000 to assist in its production of filter materials used in both surgical and P2 masks.

Clets Linen is receiving $213,000 to increase its capacity to fulfil ongoing orders for disposable isolation gowns for both Australia and abroad.

Nobody Denim is receiving $400,000 to instal up to 20 new sewing machines to produce isolation gowns, while RRJ Engineering will manufacture more plastic PPE components, including hand sanitiser bottles, closures and pumps, with $392,000 in assistance.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said this support will help Australia be more self-sufficient in a crisis – as well as create new export opportunities.

“This is about more than just the here and now of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is about working with our local manufacturers to produce the supplies which will make Australia more safe and secure into the future,” Minister Andrews said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed some gaps in our capability to produce essential medical supplies and this will go a long way to addressing that.

“This co-investment will not only develop our local manufacturing capability, it will see staff up-skilled and new opportunities created both directly and indirectly along the supply chain.

“These investments will also help industries heavily impacted by COVID-19, especially the Textiles, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) industry which employs over 31,000 Australians in manufacturing jobs.”

Kestrel Manufacturing will dedicate one of its existing meltblown machines to producing high-quality medical grade filter material that will assist other local companies like Med-Con as it ramps up its annual mask production from a couple of million a year to almost 60 million.

Kestrel Manufacturing General Manager Robert Watson said this support is “welcomed by local manufacturing businesses and clearly demonstrates the Government’s support for boosting Australian capability”.

RRJ Engineering Pty Ltd CEO Royston Kent said it “gives industry the confidence to invest in its people, facilities and to update technology”.

“Our project will be unique and will give us the opportunity to add value to our business and the local medical industry,” Mr Kent said.

The Australian Manufacturing Fund for PPE has been established to stimulate business investment in new technologies and processes in the manufacturing sector, with a focus on securing Australia’s sovereign capability.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

MEDTRONIC AND FOXCONN PARTNER TO INCREASE VENTILATOR PRODUCTION

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]“No single company can meet the current demands for ventilators that are critical in the fight against COVID-19. Joining together with Foxconn immediately increases our production capacity to meet the increased demand and creates a flexible manufacturing model for us,” said Vafa Jamali, senior vice president and president of the Respiratory, Gastrointestinal and Informatics business, which is part of the Minimally Invasive Therapies Group at Medtronic. “Together, we can increase ventilator supply and help more patients and clinicians than any one company can do alone.”

“Foxconn is grateful to all front-line professionals who tirelessly work to serve others and is proud to partner with Medtronic to address this global pandemic. Foxconn’s manufacturing capabilities can bring to market life-saving medical equipment during these challenging times,” said Foo-Ming Fu, CEO of Foxconn Industrial Internet Wisconsin. “Foxconn’s flexibility to quickly react to global markets makes opportunities with partners like this possible. In the last two months, we went from zero ventilator manufacturing capabilities to a tested, qualified ventilator manufacturing cell.”

The two companies connected after Medtronic publicly shared the design specifications for the PB560 through the Medtronic ventilator open source initiative, which launched earlier this year. This effort allows global participants to evaluate options for rapid ventilator manufacturing at scale to help doctors treat patients fighting COVID-19. To date, there have been more than 200,000 registrations for the design specifications at Medtronic.com/openventilator.

To respond to global demand, if needed, Medtronic and Foxconn can increase their production capability to more than double the current Foxconn ventilator commitment.

Introduced in 2010, the PB560 is sold in more than 35 countries around the world. It is a compact, lightweight, and portable ventilator that provides airway support for both adults and children. It can be used in clinical settings and at home and provides mobile respiratory support.

Ventilators play a critical role in the management of patients with severe respiratory illness, such as COVID-19, who require assistance because they cannot breathe effectively. Without ventilation support, some patients with severe respiratory disease might not survive. By placing a patient on a ventilator, the patient’s lungs are permitted to rest and recover while the ventilator performs the functions of supplying oxygen and simulating the actions of breathing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]