School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering

News

26 Jul 2021

Africa Prize: Loughborough student named One to Watch for low-cost ventilator design

 

School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering PhD student, Yusuf Bilesanmi, has won the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation's One to Watch award for his low-cost ventilator, ShiVent. 

The non-electric ShiVent system was created to allow non-specialised workers to treat patients with coronavirus.

The system works by connecting hospital patients to an existing oxygen source and blends air with the high-flow oxygen supply. ShiVent has been tested at Loughborough’s National Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM) and the Leicester Royal Infirmary Hospital.

Yusuf was one of 12 innovators who pitched their ideas to a live online audience who voted for the design which showed the most promise and potential for impact. He received a £5,000 prize from the Royal Academy of Engineering which organises the competition.

Speaking about the award, Yusuf said: “I was dumbfounded and super elated. I couldn’t believe we had won. It makes all the difference in the work we have done, the support we have received from the Loughborough community.”

Athena Swan Bronze award

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School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
Loughborough University
Leicestershire
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