nHale, a bilevel breathing device

Dr. Matthew Putman is the cofounder and CEO of Nanotronics, a science technology company that has redefined factory control through the invention of a platform that combines AI, automation and sophisticated imagining to assist human ingenuity in detecting flaws and anomalies in manufacturing, an industry that has been stagnant since the 1950s.

Nanotronics is building New York’s first High-Tech Manufacturing Hub in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. This new facility will allow Nanotronics' artificial intelligence researchers, computer scientists, chemists, and physicists to work directly with skilled machinists on the manufacturing floor to develop innovations that will lead partner industries to a smaller factory footprint, producing less waste while bolstering speed from R&D to production. Nanotronics’ new facility is projected to be completed by Q2/Q3 2020 and aims to serve as the blueprint for modern manufacturing.

The nHale™ is a bi-level positive air pressure device to support respiratory therapy of spontaneously breathing adults weighing over 30kg suffering from COVID-19 disease in traditional healthcare facilities. It is a non-invasive ventilator designed to be used in non-life-threatening situations, for spontaneously breathing patients, where a patient is in need of breathing assistance but is not in need of invasive ventilatory support based on standard medical protocols.

Nanotronics applied deep in-house expertise, incorporating advanced AI, Intelligent Factory Control (IFC), and sophisticated engineering to build a machine that is easily manufactured at scale and at a reduced cost to increase accessibility for all Americans. The nHale™ device is designed for comfort and ease-of-use with the simplicity of one button. 

The machine is for use in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, such as converted emergency care spaces for COVID-19 patients, prison infirmaries, and nursing care facilities.

The nHale™ is a bi-level positive air pressure device to support respiratory therapy of spontaneously breathing adults weighing over 30kg suffering from COVID-19 disease in traditional healthcare facilities. It is a non-invasive ventilator designed to be used in non-life-threatening situations, for spontaneously breathing patients, where a patient is in need of breathing assistance but is not in need of invasive ventilatory support based on standard medical protocols.

Nanotronics applied deep in-house expertise, incorporating advanced AI, Intelligent Factory Control (IFC), and sophisticated engineering to build a machine that is easily manufactured at scale and at a reduced cost to increase accessibility for all Americans. The nHale™ device is designed for comfort and ease-of-use with the simplicity of one button. 

The machine is for use in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, such as converted emergency care spaces for COVID-19 patients, prison infirmaries, and nursing care facilities.

Governor Cuomo’s Emergency Executive Order and the ESD has called upon Nanotronics and its construction project as essential business. Through the SBA Nanotronics received a PPP loan to keep its full staff employed while we work diligently to support all our emergency services and suppliers manage and mitigate this pandemic.

In response to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Emergency Order, Nanotronics, a science technology company building New York’s first-ever high tech manufacturing hub, used their status as an essential company, applying advanced AI, Intelligent Factory Control, and sophisticated engineering, to create nHale®, an affordable, easy-to-use BiPAP manufactured and made in the United States. During development and testing, Nanotronics consulted with Northwell Hospital emergency medical physicians on the front lines of the most affected area of COVID-19, to ensure we met their needs.

Nanotronics has passed all of the necessary safety tests and expects to obtain Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) this week (9JUN2020) to assist COVID-19 patients, who are exhibiting non-life-threatening respiratory difficulties and are in need of breathing assistance.

The nHale® BiPAP device allows critical care professionals to provide non-invasive respiratory relief for patients suffering from Covid-19 who need assistance breathing. 

The machine is roughly one-tenth of the cost of commercially available BiPAP devices, making it ideal to distribute widely to meet growing demand for respiratory care.

Potential Impact

The impact is two-fold. In prisons, it can avoid the cost and the transport of COVID-19 patients out of the prison and to hospital. Use can reduce prisoner’s time spent on a ventilator, acting as a therapy before and after endotracheal intubation. BiPAP therapy can also be deployed easily to those incarcerated after a hospital stay to aid their recovery and prevent a future or repeated hospital visit.

The nHale project opens access to healthcare to underserved communities. This is one of the most difficult problems our world currently faces under COVID-19. The need for inexpensive, accessible breathing devices is crucial to our well being. The nHale will serve underserved communities in the US, and after streamlining production, we are hoping to serve communities in need of breathing assistance all over the world. 

Bilevel breathing devices can cost upwards to 1000-3000 dollars. We are making a device that we will donate to underserved communities and sell to medical organizations at around 150 dollars. 

The American healthcare system was unable to treat the massive influx of patients in respiratory distress. There would be an immediate need to shore up relief in hospitals and homes across America.Nanotronics CEO Matthew Putman and John Putman wanted to find a bridge technology to shore up hospitals suffering shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide relief to patients.

As coronavirus attacks the lungs, it makes breathing labored, diminishing the lungs’ ability to breathe on their own, which can lead to symptoms of acute respiratory distress. Sometimes, blood oxygen levels dangerously lower before patients feel as though they are struggling for air. At their sickest, patients fight to get a clean intake of fresh air. This is deeply anxiety-inducing. 

We want to help our community during this time. Our CEO, Matthew Putman, tested positive for COVID-19 and was able to get better and breath normally using a breathing device. We want everyone to have access to this device by making it  as inexpensive as possible and also donating it to prisons and hospitals.

We want to deploy to countries who can’t afford high-cost medical care beyond COVID-19, for pneumonia, COPD, and other illnesses. Perhaps the COVID-19 crisis will lead to the creation of long-lasting solutions.

Nanotronics is a science technology company that specializes in manufacturing and implementing cutting edge industrial precision instruments that promote the rapid detection of flaws and anomalies in devices and materials for clients across a number of industries.b.Nanotronics is well positioned to safely produce and distribute the nHale BiPAP device to aid in the present COVID-19 emergency. 

We do not need to rely on an untrustworthy supply chain, nor do we need to retrain an entire workforce in order to meet global production demands on a community level. oWe can do that right here, in our own factory while in turn using our nSpec machines to ensure the highest of quality.oWe accomplish this by quickly building products that are needed with items that are accessible and economically viable. oAs the country works toward maintaining health and productivity during the COVID-19 crisis, we are accelerating our method of “proving by example” by pushing sustainable pathways toward building a new infrastructure that is self-reliant and unencumbered by the complicated global supply chain. 

Nanotronics has applied Intelligent Factory Control (IFC)capabilities that enables machines to autonomously correct for irregularities in the production process. Its viability has been demonstrated with an additive manufacturing model using 3D printing, making truly intelligent self-inspecting, self-optimizing factories an achievable goal. Not only does the platform promise to improve yield but, at its best, will transform manufacturing by significantly reducing by-products, shortening supply chains, controlling costs and footprint, while fostering higher levels of creativity and innovation.

After testing the first iteration of the Bilevel machine, we saw that the requirements sometimes far exceeded our original goal. We knew in order for this project to meet health regulations, we would have to revisit his invention. To meet this challenge, we brought on a larger team, and collaborated with them, and moved production to a shuttered industrial school (due in the quarantine) in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Matthew Putman was previously the President of Tech Pro Inc, maker of data acquisition software, and physical testing equipment for various industries. Matthew was a winner of the American Chemical Society best paper award in 2005. He lead the acquisitions of two companies, and opened offices in 13 countries.Tech Pro was acquired in 2008 by Roper Industries.

This project was launched under the company Nanotronics, but is a not-for-profit endeavor. 

Nanotronics is a science technology company that has redefined factory control through the invention of a platform that combines AI, automation, and sophisticated imagining to assist human ingenuity in detecting flaws and anomalies in manufacturing; an industry that has been stagnant since the 1950’s. Deployed across eight countries and industry agnostic, we work with leading-edge companies to drive up yield, reduce footprint and waste, lower costs, and speed up design iteration.

Nanotronics applied deep in-house expertise to build a machine that is easily manufactured at scale, as well as at reduced cost, to increase accessibility for all Americans. The nHaleTM device is designed for comfort and ease-of-use with the simplicity of one button. The machine is for use in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, such as emergency care spaces for COVID-19 patients, prison infirmaries, and nursing care facilities.

In addition to distributing the nHaleTM to hospitals, Nanotronics will donate a number of machines to healthcare facilities that traditionally serve communities of color and are disproportionally affected by COVID-19. As a partner in START-UP NY with City University of New York, Nanotronics will consult with educational leaders at Medgar Evers College as well as Shaka Senghor, Founder of Redeemed Sole, to determine where nHaleTM is most needed within communities of color.