Ventec Life Systems

Ventec Life Systems was founded in Bothell, Washington, a suburb of Seattle,[2] by Doug DeVries.[3] According to the New York Times, Ventec is known for its VOCSN model, which received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in 2017. The VOCSN is the size of a large toaster oven, and combines a number of functions that had previously been performed by several different machines to pump air into the lungs, suction out secretions, and produce oxygen when a central oxygen line is not available. It is used in critical-care hospital units and in home care.[4] Chris Kiple is the CEO of Ventec[5] and the Chief Strategy Officer of the company is Chris Brooks.[6]

Ventec developed the VOCSN unified respiratory system, which is a portable personal medical device that includes a ventilator, 6 L/min portable oxygen concentrator, cough assist, suction, and nebulization therapies for the patient.[7] The name of the device is an acronym derived from the names of these five functions.[8] It received FDA approval in April 2017,[9] and began to roll out in 2018.[10][11] The weight of the device is about eighteen pounds.[12] It is designed for use by both children and adults to treat conditions such as muscular degeneration, spinal cord injury, and underdeveloped lungs.[13] As of 2017 it was medically cleared for use in the US and Japan.[14]

On March 21, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, General Motors announced a partnership with Ventec Life Systems to produce ventilators. The partnership is expected to build 10,000 ventilators per month at GM's facilities in Kokomo, Indiana, using Ventec's VOCSN platform.[15][16] Ventec is one of twelve worldwide manufacturers of ventilators.[17] According to NBC News, its ventilators are transportable and include advanced data monitoring, as well as internal controls to make the most of oxygen consumption. The five-in-one technology compresses 55 pounds of equipment into 18 pounds, and it has a nine-hour battery life.[18]