WVXU: Cincinnati-designed ventilators on their way to Brazil and beyond
Nonprofit started by former P&G scientists had input from UC
WVXU recently reported on Venti-Now, a Cincinnati-based nonprofit that developed a simple automated ventilator. Some of those ventilators will soon be on the way to Brazil, which has a high number of COVID-19 cases, as well as Tanzania.
Venti-Now was launched early in the pandemic by two P&G scientists, John Molander and Art Koehler, with the aim to create an affordable, easy-to-use ventilator for low-resource countries. The company enlisted input from various University of Cincinnati experts, including Peter Campbell, professor of biomedical engineering at UC, along with two of his students, whose work was featured here.
Biomedical engineering students, Johnathan Wisecarver and Jacquelyn Chapman, pose with the Venti-Now ventilator they helped create. Photo/provided.
WVXU reports that Venti-Now began to manufacture the ventilator devices at PMC Smart Solutions based in Blue Ash early in July. The units feature a simple bag-valve-mask design similar to what is used to manually help people breath on an ambulance ride. Venti-Now’s product automates the inflation of the bag.
Unlike most ventilators, Venti-Now’s device doesn’t require expensive oxygen tanks. Instead, it can be run off of compressor air, which makes it suitable for temporary emergency facilities and hospitals with or without air hookups. Many standard ventilators require trained personnel to operate, calibrate or fix the machines.
Featured image at top: Venti-Now founder John Molander and UC student Jacquelyn Chapman examine the ventilator. Photo/provided.
Related Stories
Environmental engineer driven to provide access to clean water
May 4, 2026
Evangelia Anna Passa was drawn to the UC by its reputation of research and department of chemical and environmental engineering. Now pursuing a PhD in environmental engineering at the College of Engineering and Applied Science, she was recently named Graduate student Engineer of the Month.
College of Engineering and Applied Science alum finds meaning in giving
May 4, 2026
The notion of Dāna (दान), or selfless giving, is a fundamental tenet of the Hindu religion has always been important to Narendar Sahgal, MS, CEAS ’83. He’s received much in life, he says, for which he’s always wanted to give back — and since retiring in 2016 from Intel in Portland, Oregon, where he worked for 33 years, he has been doing just that.
Photos: UC celebrates 2026 commencement
May 4, 2026
The Cincinnati Enquirer shares a photo gallery from UC's spring commencement at Nippert Stadium.