The U.S. Tried to Build a New Fleet of Ventilators. The Mission Failed. - The New York Times
Where the US Gov cocks up, Johnson’s U.K. Gov seems determined to follow.
nytimes.com/2020/03/29/bus…
Where the US Gov cocks up, Johnson’s U.K. Gov seems determined to follow.
nytimes.com/2020/03/29/bus…
Not the sense they were born with, as my parents used to say. 
So they were to be relatively cheap ($3k instead of $10k each) so more could be bought, and simple to train to use, unlike the more sophisticated models in customary use.
And some bright spark thought to choose a “small, nimble company” would be just the ticket.
And some bright spark thought to choose a “small, nimble company” would be just the ticket.
In 2010 The company was to receive $6.1 million of Gov money to seed fund “Project Aurora”
By 2011 it had produced 3 prototypes already for approval and mass production in 2013.
Cost per prototype thus far? $2 mill each.
By 2011 it had produced 3 prototypes already for approval and mass production in 2013.
Cost per prototype thus far? $2 mill each.
Project *Aura*
But small nimble companies with a nice fat Government contract and $millions of seed money become attractive to larger competitors..like Covidien (NB the name!)
It already produced nice expensive ventilators and cheaper competition would be unwelcome
Yep. It bought Newport.
It already produced nice expensive ventilators and cheaper competition would be unwelcome
Yep. It bought Newport.
It demanded more seed money $1.4 million and a higher price per ventilator.
The Gov handed it over.
Cost per prototype now?
$2.5 million.
Somehow Covidien weren’t so keen & asked for the contract to end. Not enough profit. 2014. Contract cancelled.
No new ventilators
The Gov handed it over.
Cost per prototype now?
$2.5 million.
Somehow Covidien weren’t so keen & asked for the contract to end. Not enough profit. 2014. Contract cancelled.
No new ventilators
How fitting that a company called COVIDien should scupper access time ventilators desperately needed for COVID patients.
A new contract was awarded $13.8 mill, this time to Phillips in July 2019, for delivery of 10k units.
By mid 2020. Oh.
A new contract was awarded $13.8 mill, this time to Phillips in July 2019, for delivery of 10k units.
By mid 2020. Oh.
The order was placed in December 2019 for 10k Trilogy Evo
COVIDien, meanwhile, was gobbled up by medical device giant Meditronics...who had little or no recollection of Project Aura.
Even with speeded up maintenance & repair of the Gov stockpiles they have less than 25% needed
COVIDien, meanwhile, was gobbled up by medical device giant Meditronics...who had little or no recollection of Project Aura.
Even with speeded up maintenance & repair of the Gov stockpiles they have less than 25% needed
And what does the U.K. do right in the eye of the storm of the crisis now with hundreds dying each day?
Go it alone as an independent country. With access to 8k ventilators including those in private hospitals.
Go it alone as an independent country. With access to 8k ventilators including those in private hospitals.
