NASA’s COVID-19 ventilator gains FDA approval for emergency use

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved for emergency use a ventilator specially developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to treat COVID-19 patients.

NASA’s VITAL (Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally) system is designed to last three to four months and is specifically tailored for patients with COVID-19 by providing respiratory support for patients experiencing respiratory failure or insufficiency.

Additionally, the device is designed to be built with components outside the current medical device supply chain and thereby will not impact existing ventilator supply chains.