The pulmonary ventilators developed by USP researchers are being distributed to hospitals across Brazil
 

São Paulo, July 6, 2021 – Klabin, Brazil’s largest producer and exporter of paper for packaging and paper packaging, has mobilized to develop an exclusive packaging solution for adequately storing and transporting the pulmonary ventilators developed by the INSPIRE Project, an initiative advanced by researchers from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (USP). To date, Klabin already has donated over 1,000 corrugated board packaging units to the project, which distributes the respirators to healthcare institutions across Brazil to support the treatment of patients stricken by Covid-19.
 

Developed back in the first half of 2020, INSPIRE is an emergency respiratory support machine approved by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) that represents an effective alternative for meeting the high demand for respirators in hospitals caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The use of Brazilian technology made it possible to develop a portable, low-cost solution that could be produced rapidly and is ideal for use in campaign hospitals, ambulances and remote rural areas.
 

The equipment’s authorization posed a new challenge: the need for packaging that could securely protect and transport INSPIRE, including when shipping it to distant regions with difficult access. Committed to supporting initiatives that help combat the pandemic, Klabin has partnered with the project’s team and developed an effective packaging solution that features the agility required to meet the urgent demand for the respirator.
 

The packaging, made from corrugated board, which is a recyclable product made from planted and certified forests, has three inner boxes that separately store the respirator, its hoses and other accessories, which are packed together in a larger box. “The solution we developed fully meets the product’s needs. We took every care to create a functional design that facilitates and speeds up assembly of the packaging and opted for a material that is slightly thicker than usual to safely store the respirator and protect it during transportation. The inner boxes form niches to accommodate other parts, such as batteries, and are compartmentalized in accordance with their assembly order,” explained Gabriella Michelucci, Corrugated Board director.
 

Developed by Klabin’s New Business and Products team, the project took approximately two weeks to complete. “Amid the challenges the pandemic imposes on all of us as a society, it is a great honor to be a part of initiatives such as the INSPIRE Project. Our packaging is protecting a piece of equipment that can save lives, which will always be a source of great pride for Klabin,” said Gabriella.
 

The pulmonary ventilators of the INSPIRE Project are being used in various institutions across Brazil. To date, 155 municipalities in 14 states have received the equipment.
 

For more information, visit https://www.poli.usp.br/inspire.
 

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