NSWC Designs Portable Oxygen Manifolds for COVID-19

Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Corona Division in Norco, California, recently designed a low-cost, mass-producible portable medical oxygen manifold for Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton for the COVID-19 response.

The device – designed in a matter of hours at the request ofCombat Logistics Regiment 15 (CLR-15) Marines – features multiple flow ratevalves and eight outputs, allowing medical staff to simultaneously provideoxygen to eight patients from a single oxygen cylinder. One day after therequest, the Marines had the design in hand and parts available for order toreadily augment the medical stockpile for the Naval Hospital Camp Pendletonstabilization ward, should the hospital need to utilize the ward in the eventof a patient overflow.

“With the pandemic going on, it’s important for the Navy andMarine Corps to stick together as a team to accomplish these kinds of tasks ormissions,” said Gunnery Sgt. Reuben Ramirez, a Marine assigned to the 1stSupply Battalion under CLR-15.

“When we presented the Navy with our request, they were veryresponsive and quick to act," Ramirez said. "The Navy and MarineCorps are putting lots of material resources into this response; this is usphysically standing up.

"We're standing tall together, showing the nation we’rehere and ready – one team, one fight – and we’re ready to accomplish themission and ensure the safety of our folks.”

In its current design, 20 of the portable medical oxygenmanifolds can be produced for about $375, with little to no lag time inproduction and assembly. To put those figures into perspective, 160 COVID-19patients at a time could benefit from the devices for only a few hundreddollars invested.

“It’s important to have a selection of viable solutionsavailable at all times,” said Dr. Ryan Olsen, chief scientist for NSWC Corona’sexpeditionary systems engineering division. “This is a fast, viable andinexpensive solution.”

Across the globe, medical respiratory devices have claimedtheir place as critical medical components for treating many coronaviruspatients. Those components are in short supply in many countries as thepandemic continues. The Navy and Marine Corps’ focus on all facets ofreadiness, operational and otherwise, have led the services to continueadvanced planning and preparation efforts for the unexpected.

“In a crisis, you don’t have a month to find a solution,”said Olsen. “There’s not a lot of warning and not a lot of time to respond, butit still requires a good engineering solution. Those good solutions aresomething we strive for in all the work we do.”

The design for the oxygen manifold prototype was bornfollowing a thorough analysis of additive, subtractive and reverse engineeringoptions by the NSWC Corona Expeditionary Solution Cell (ESC), a team ofengineers and scientists developing rapid engineering solutions to Navy andMarine Corps challenges. The team designed the manifolds by pairingcomputer-aided design software with engineering technology and readily availableparts.

The team reverse-engineered existing manifold hardware,shopped the internet and supply chains for readily-available, commercialon-the-shelf parts and leveraged specs from open sources as they developed themanifold using computer-aided design technology.

NSWC Corona recently provided similar support to CaliforniaRehabilitation Center – Norco, for which it designed 3-D printed face shieldsfor prison staff that could help slow or reduce the spread of COVID-19 andaugment personal protective equipment stockpiles if needed.

While additive manufacturing has not traditionally served asa primary focus for the command, it is a niche that has provided the integratedwarfighter with improved capabilities and real, tangible results for trainingand operations at home and abroad. Additional solutions recently developed forthe Marine Corps by the NSWC Corona ESC include explosive breaching charges,shock coil canisters, ammunition counting boards and ordnance training aids.