New ventilator could allow more Covid patients to be ‘treated outside of intensive care’ - here’s how it works

A new type of ventilator, which may allow those severely ill with Covid to be treated outside intensive care units (ICU), has been designed in the UK.

The device, named exovent, is a negative pressure ventilator which works by lowering the pressure outside the body. This then allows lung tissue to expand and function in a way that is similar to normal breathing.