Hale

A portable ventilator

A portable emergency ventilator concept to address life-saving equipment shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This compact, briefcase-style device combines essential invasive mechanical ventilation components with an approachable, human-centered aesthetic to help reduce patient anxiety in emergency medical settings.

My Role

Industrial Designer.

Timeline

June 2020

Tools

Fusion 360

Team

Geraldine Estrada.

OVERVIEW

Problem

During the initial outbreak of COVID-19, hospitals worldwide faced a critical shortage of emergency mechanical ventilators needed to treat severe hypoxemia and pneumonia. Additionally, conventional hospital equipment often features cold, industrial aesthetics that can induce fear and anxiety in distressed patients.

Product Goals:
Create a highly portable, briefcase-style invasive ventilator concept for rapid deployment in emergency scenarios.
Redesign traditional medical equipment aesthetics to promote better patient mental health through approachable forms and calming colors.
Integrate necessary life-support components—including gas storage, humidification, and medication delivery—into a compact, single-unit casing.

Initial sketches and conceptual drawings.

DEVELOPMENT

From sketch to 3D model

HALE F5 V6

Modeled in Fusion 360, the device utilizes a dual-door briefcase format where the outer shell acts as its own protective carrying case. The front door houses the primary interface—featuring a tempered glass screen and three essential controls (Power, Settings, and Emergency)—while the rear compartment encloses the internal mechanical assembly.

Internal Engineering & Material Selection Mechanical Integration:

The interior holds two aluminum tanks for O_2 and CO_2, an internal battery, a humidifier to warm gases before reaching the lungs, and an integrated nebulizer for aerosol medication delivery.

Material Selection:

The outer casing and control buttons are designed in lightweight plastic for rapid manufacturing, paired with blue rubber bumpers along the handle and lateral edges to absorb impacts and protect internal components during transport.

IMPACT:
HALE demonstrates how emergency medical hardware can balance functional portability with human-centered design. By reimagining a complex invasive ventilator as an approachable, compact unit, the concept addresses both critical logistical needs and patient psychological comfort during medical crises.