As our local healthcare workers struggle to contain a second wave of COVID-19, some hope is at hand coming in the form of OxeRA. OxeRA (Oxygen-Efficient Respiratory Aid) is described as a simple, efficient, portable and cost-effective device that delivers consistently high levels of oxygen to COVID-19 patients and helps keep their lungs from collapsing.
OxeRA has been approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and will be used for emergency COVID-19 use, manufactured and distributed by Gabler Medical. A proudly South African invention, OxERA is positioned and could very well be a game changer in areas where there are large numbers of COVID-19 patients with a lack of skilled staff, ICU and high care facilities; and insufficient bulk oxygen supplies.
A great example of finding innovation in the midst of a crisis, as we’ve pointed out before in previous stories, the device was developed by a group of East London-based volunteers comprising of doctors, engineers and entrepreneurs with the aim of effectively bridging the gap between current standard oxygen therapy via face masks and ICU-based non-invasive or mechanical ventilation, while requiring no more oxygen flow than a standard face mask.
Dr Craig Parker, a medical officer working in anaesthetics with a background in mechanical engineering, says the group was determined to find a solution when they realised that South Africa would face similar patient loads seen in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic, but would have limited high care capacity and fewer resources to respond:
“The high oxygen level delivered by the device ensures that maximum oxygen content is available to diseased lungs. The valve on the device maintains slight pressure to prevent lungs from collapsing when the patient breathes out, and reduces the amount of work it takes to breathe. Furthermore, as oxygen supply can be adjusted to patient demand, less oxygen is usually required. In our oxygen resource-constrained environment this is a game changer. It allows even the most basic facilities, which are dependent on bottled oxygen or small oxygen concentrators, to provide a higher level of care than they are currently able to.”
Reiner Gabler, MD of Gabler Medical, says industrialisation and licencing have been a lengthy process, but now that the company has obtained SAHPRA approval for the device they can focus on scaling up production:
“We can produce over 15,000 units a week, so capacity is not an issue. This will definitely create jobs during the pandemic and, if the product achieves general acceptance, also after the pandemic. The device holds export potential too.”
