Rich Americans are trying to buy their own personal ventilators during the coronavirus pandemic, despite a national shortage
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A manufacturer of ventilators which can treat patients with COVID-19 said he wealth buyers have asked to buy their own machines from him, according to the New York Times.
Demand for all types of ventilator is soaring as governments race to equip their hospitals for anticipated demand in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.Chris Kiple is CEO of Ventec, a Seattle-based manufacturer that is one of many companies racing to satisfy global demand. He told the Times: "I can tell you with a 100 percent confidence that every single manufacturer is facing a backlog right now."
On Wednesday, President Trump told reporters the government was ordering "thousands and thousands" of ventilators to boost the national supply. But the US is facing a potential shortage of the life-saving equipment, as Business Insider's Lydia Ramsey reported.
One of the key features of one of Ventec's models, the VOCSN, is that it is a portable device that can be operated by one person, rather than needing a team of medical staff.
Mark Suhoo, marketing and communications VP at Ventec, said in an emailed statement to Business Insider: "A typical ICU ventilator requires three primary operators: a critical care doctor, respiratory therapist, and a nurse and additional devices."
"VOCSN combines all of 5 of these devices into a single, portable device that is easy to use, thus reducing the space, staff and supplies needed to manage patients on a ventilator."At present, however, Kiple said that at present the company has decided not to accept individual orders, according to NBC News.
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