Research team led by the University of Barcelona has designed a low-cost mechanical ventilator made from common automotive parts, built to work where conventional medical equipment cannot reach
The COVID-19 pandemic showed how quickly the demand for mechanical ventilators can exceed the capacity of even well-equipped health systems. In resource-limited settings, where critical care infrastructure is already scarce, the need for accessible and scalable solutions is particularly pressing.
A research team led by the University of Barcelona, partner of the SALAM project, has developed a scientific paper that addresses this need from a new angle. Rather than designing a better version of an existing device, the team asked a different question: what if a ventilator could be built from materials available almost anywhere?
The answer they arrived at is a low-cost ventilator for crisis settings constructed entirely from standard automotive components, basic hardware materials, and simple tools. The device does not require specialised medical-grade parts or rely on global supply chains for critical components; an important advantage in emergency contexts where access to conventional resources may be limited or disrupted.
The device runs on a standard 12-volt car battery, consumes very little power (enough to operate for several days on a single charge) and can support both adult and paediatric patients. It was rigorously tested under demanding conditions, and the results confirmed that it can deliver effective ventilatory support in scenarios where no conventional alternative is available.
The design follows an open-source approach: construction instructions are publicly shared to allow local teams to reproduce and adapt the device in their own settings.
The researchers are also clear about what this device is and what it is not. It is not intended to replace the ventilators found in intensive care units. It is designed for contexts where a respiratory pandemic places sudden pressure on health systems with limited intensive care capacity and restricted access to conventional medical equipment.
This is the kind of challenge that gives shape to SALAM’s work. The project works to promote more equitable access to healthcare across the Mediterranean, with a particular focus on strengthening health system resilience in fragile and crisis-affected contexts. Access, in SALAM’s framework, is not just about having services; it is about making sure that essential care can actually reach the people who need it, even when systems are under extreme pressure.
This research is also a concrete example of the collaborative work taking place within SALAM’s transnational research network, where universities, healthcare institutions and civil society organisations across the Mediterranean contribute to developing affordable and accessible biomedical solutions for underserved communities. The University of Barcelona’s work on this ventilator demonstrates that accessible healthcare innovation does not always mean more sophisticated technology. Sometimes it means rethinking what a life-saving device can be made of, who can build it, and where it can work.
The study was supported by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme within the SALAM project, and by the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR).
Last Update
04/06/2026
Next Med