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Published on: Apr 05, 2020
3 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Ventilators, When Breathing Is Not Enough For Covid-19 Patients!

Ventilators. A device few had heard of before the pandemic.

This life saving machine is desperately sought after by hospitals around the world. COVID patients with the most severe symptoms require ventilator support to survive and recover. But what is this machine? And what does it actually do?

THE BASICS

Breathing is a simple task, one that we do not think about. When we breathe our chest expands, and air is pulled into our lungs. Here oxygen is exchanged into the blood and transported by the pumping heart throughout the body. In our cells the oxygen is used to release energy from our food, and drive every process and reaction that keeps us alive and functioning.

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. Its symptoms include a dry cough, fever, feeling tired and more. In most patients the disease is mild. However some suffer from severe disease, causing havoc in their lungs. It can cause viral pneumonia in both of the patients lungs, which reduces the amount of lung able to bring in oxygen to the lung. The patient’s respiratory rate increases, as they struggle to draw in oxygen.

If a person is struggling to breathe on room air doctors can provide them extra oxygen. This is given through a mask they wear on their face. Normal air only has 21% oxygen, but in hospitals it is possible to give air that is 100% oxygen. This means more oxygen reaches the blood, and the patient has to put in less effort to breathe to get the same amount of oxygen to their cells.

In severe cases it can cause widespread inflammation in the lungs, causing fluid to build up and making breathing harder and more laborious. The patient can become tired having to breathe quicker and harder, and this is when doctors look to intensive care specialists and ventilator support.

VENTILATION

If a person is unable to breathe for themselves, it is possible to do this manually or mechanically. Specialists can insert a tube into the mouth of an unconscious patient that enters their windpipe. A bag pump can be attached to this, which a doctor can squeeze to push air into the patient’s lungs. But a person cannot continuously squeeze this bag to keep ventilating someone, as this is time consuming and tiring.

Ventilators are composed of a compressible reservoir or turbine that can push air into the patients lungs. Unlike regular pumps that continuously push air or water, ventilators have to mimic how we breathe. We inspire air in, then expire air out. Ventilators achieve this by pushing in air for a few seconds, inflating the lungs, then releasing the pressure. The natural elasticity of the patients ribs and lungs squeezes the excess air out, mimicking exhalation.

Modern ventilators are very smart, and have many configurable settings. They can be set to deliver defined quantities of air, change the rate of breathing and other advanced settings.

Hospitals regularly use ventilators for patients who are struggling to breathe, patients who are in a coma and have lost the ability to breathe, and also for anaesthetised patients in operating theatres. During the pandemic hospitals are cancelling unnecessary or non-emergency operations, redistributing these ventilators to be used for COVID patients instead.

MAKE MORE VENTS

It is estimated that up to 30% of patients that are admitted to hospital require ventilators. Most hospitals across the world do not have enough ventilators because they have never needed to ventilate so many patients. Governments have recruited the help of manufacturing companies to ramp up production of ventilators. In the UK F1 teams, military aircraft constructors and hoover manufacturers have all taken up the challenge and repurposed their factories.

There have also been innovations to create new ventilator designs that are cheap and easy to produce. This often involves off-the-shelf equipment that is already present in hospitals, and 3D printed parts. Such machines often do not require electricity or circuit board electronics, and can even be powered by the high pressure oxygen flowing from gas canisters or hospital walls.

- University College Dublin: https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/19/open-source-project-spins-up-3d-printed-ventilator-validation-prototype-in-just-one-week/ ventilator prototype

- University of Oxford: http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-03-31-ventilator-project-oxvent-gets-green-light-uk-government-proceed-next-stage-testing Ventilator project

NEVER A SIMPLE SOLUTION

But as always its not always this simple. Ventilators are complex machines requiring specialist training to function and maintain, as ventilation and respiratory physiology is quite complicated. Ventilators will be of limited use if hospitals do not have enough staff trained to use them safely.

Ventilators are not without risk either. Because they push air into the lung, continuous use, excessive pressures and improper use can cause some damage to the delicate anatomy inside the lung, causing problems in itself. The plastic tube can also be a source of infection. Some hospitals that have had a sharp increase in ventilated patients have encountered problems supplying all their patients with pressurised oxygen. The patient load is overwhelming their infrastructure.

Unfortunately like most things in medicine, ventilators are not a magic cure. Due to the shortage of ventilators not everyone who needs one is able to get it. Most patients who end up needing ventilation are severely ill. The longer a person is on a ventilator the less likely they are to survive. This means that current mortality is rather high.

As more ventilators become available this treatment may become available to those with less severe symptoms, who are more likely to survive especially with this extra help. It is difficult to make these predictions because so many different variables can have an effect. For now we will have to wait and see.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?

The best way to help in these situations is by not catching the virus. This is especially true for those who are elderly, have diabetes, cardiovascular issues or lung diseases. These high-risk patients are more likely to have more serious symptoms, requiring hospitalization. This is why so many countries have enforced lockdown measures. The fewer that are infected, the fewer that need ventilation.

If you do need to leave the house, always follow the following procedures:

- Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap or alcohol

- Wear a mask outside: This is now official WHO policy

- If you need to cough or sneeze do so into your arm or a tissue

- Only leave the house for essential activities, shopping or to visit the doctor.

Dr Rajan Choudhary, Chief Product Officer & President, Second Medic UK

www.secondmedic.com

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AI-Based Disease Detection India: How SecondMedic Is Transforming Early Diagnosis

India’s healthcare landscape is evolving rapidly, with artificial intelligence emerging as one of the most powerful tools for early disease detection. AI-based disease detection India represents a major shift from reactive healthcare to predictive, preventive, and precise medical analysis. Instead of waiting for symptoms to appear, AI enables clinicians and patients to identify risks early through advanced data interpretation.

Rising chronic diseases, increased diagnostic loads, and limited specialist availability make AI essential for early diagnosis in India. The use of AI in medical imaging, risk scoring, and pattern recognition significantly enhances accuracy while reducing time-consuming manual processes. SecondMedic integrates AI-powered diagnostic tools to help individuals detect health conditions in their earliest stages, enabling timely intervention and improved long-term outcomes.

Why India Needs AI-Based Disease Detection

India faces one of the world’s highest burdens of chronic and lifestyle diseases. Many conditions remain undiagnosed until they reach advanced stages, often due to late screenings, limited access to specialists, or lack of early symptoms.

The need for AI-based detection is driven by:

High incidence of silent diseases like diabetes and hypertension
Overloaded healthcare systems
Limited availability of expert radiologists
Rising lifestyle risk factors
Increasing demand for precision diagnostics
Need for faster, more accurate analysis

AI bridges these gaps by providing early alerts, consistent accuracy, and fast interpretations.

How AI Detects Diseases Early

AI-based disease detection uses machine learning models trained on thousands of medical datasets. These models learn to recognize abnormal patterns and subtle changes that the human eye might overlook.

AI analyzes:

Blood test patterns
Vital signs and wearable data
Imaging scans (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans)
Medical history
Genetic predispositions
Lifestyle habits

Through advanced algorithms, AI can identify risks long before symptoms appear, giving patients critical time for prevention and treatment.

AI in Medical Imaging: A Major Breakthrough for India

Medical imaging AI has transformed diagnosis speed and accuracy. In India, where access to radiologists is uneven, AI helps bridge diagnostic gaps.

AI-assisted imaging helps detect:

Lung infections and tuberculosis
Early-stage cancer indicators
Cardiac abnormalities
Brain tumors and neurological issues
Bone fractures and musculoskeletal conditions
Liver and kidney anomalies

SecondMedic uses AI-supported imaging interpretation to enhance precision and reduce reporting delays.

AI for Chronic Disease Prediction

Chronic illnesses often develop silently. By analyzing long-term trends, AI can predict disease progression and alert patients earlier.

AI helps forecast:

Prediabetes to diabetes progression
Heart attack risk
Hypertension development
Chronic kidney disease
Thyroid dysfunction
Metabolic health decline

These predictions allow individuals to take preventive action far in advance.

Personalized Disease Detection with AI

AI enables personalized diagnostics by incorporating each user’s biological and lifestyle data into prediction models.

Personalized AI detection considers:

Age and family history
Diet and activity levels
Sleep patterns
Stress levels
Blood markers
Genetic factors

This creates a highly individualized health risk profile.

SecondMedic’s AI engine creates a personalized risk score for each user, allowing targeted preventive strategies.

AI for Cancer Early Detection

Cancer often goes undiagnosed until it reaches advanced stages. AI helps detect early warning signs by analyzing subtle abnormalities.

AI supports early cancer detection in:

Breast cancer (mammograms)
Cervical cancer (Pap tests and visual scans)
Lung cancer (X-rays and CT scans)
Colon cancer indicators
Skin cancer lesion analysis

This improves survival rates by supporting early diagnosis.

Real-Time Monitoring with AI

Continuous monitoring is essential for early disease detection. AI integrates with wearable devices and digital health tools to track vital parameters in real time.

AI monitors:

Heart rate trends
Oxygen levels
Blood pressure variations
Stress levels
Sleep quality
Blood glucose fluctuations (connected devices)

Real-time alerts notify users of abnormalities that require attention.

AI in Public Health Disease Detection

AI is also used at the population level to identify disease patterns and outbreaks.

AI supports public health by:

Predicting outbreak patterns
Analyzing environmental health impact
Tracking regional disease trends
Supporting government screening programs

This strengthens India’s preventive health strategy.

How SecondMedic Uses AI for Disease Detection

SecondMedic integrates AI tools throughout its digital healthcare ecosystem, helping individuals access early detection and preventive insights.

SecondMedic’s AI capabilities include:

Risk scoring for diseases
AI analysis of medical reports
Predictive analytics dashboards
Early-warning alerts
Integration with wearables
AI-supported doctor consultations

This helps users understand risks clearly and take action early.

Challenges in AI-Based Disease Detection

While AI offers powerful benefits, it must be used responsibly.

Challenges include:

Requirement of high-quality medical data
Need for clinical validation
Maintaining data privacy
Avoiding algorithmic bias
Ensuring user awareness and understanding

SecondMedic follows ethical AI practices aligned with DPDP Act and ABDM standards.

Future of AI-Based Disease Detection in India

AI will continue to redefine diagnostics in India over the next decade.

Future developments include:

Deep AI for full-body scan interpretation
Genomic-based AI predictions
Emotion and mental health detection through AI
AI-assisted virtual triage systems
At-home AI diagnostic kits
National integrated AI health platforms

SecondMedic aims to lead in these innovations by integrating advanced predictive tools.

Conclusion

AI-based disease detection India is shaping a new era of proactive healthcare. By analyzing health patterns, detecting abnormalities early, and providing accurate risk assessment, AI empowers individuals to act before diseases progress. SecondMedic uses AI-driven diagnostic tools to support early detection, preventive care, and long-term health protection.

To explore AI-powered diagnostic support, visit www.secondmedic.com

References

NITI Aayog – AI for Healthcare in India
WHO – AI in Early Disease Detection
ICMR – Chronic Disease Patterns India
IMARC – Indian AI Healthcare Market
FICCI – AI and Precision Medicine India

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