VAT , a manufacturer of high-end vacuum valves, is providing crucial valves needed for the production of the development of medical flow sensors. Flow sensors are a key component in respiratory devices used for treatment of severe coronavirus infections. The coronavirus, now spreading rapidly across the globe, is a highly infectious disease that causes mild to moderate respiratory illness — which can become severe and even lethal in people with underlying medical issues.

Respiratory devices are an essential part of treating severe coronavirus cases and can ultimately save lives in serious cases. Global demand for respiratory devices has spiked, putting hospitals under unprecedented strain — and creating a desperately urgent situation for device manufacturers. An essential part of all respiratory devices are the medical flow sensors from Sensirion .

“When the call came from Sensirion for a delivery of crucial valves needed in the production of medical flow sensors, VAT responded immediately,” says Andreas Dostmann, VAT Sales Manager. “The high-performance valves were shipped within 24 hours. The speed of the spread of the COVID-19 virus caught everyone unprepared,” he says. “When Sensirion initially contacted us about an order for our in-line vacuum valves, the delivery time was nine weeks. However, once the client laid out the extreme urgency of the order — to enable production ramp-up for their medical flow sensors — our team moved quickly. We assembled the valves overnight and shipped the next morning.”

The VAT Series 245 in-line valves.

The VAT Series 245 in-line valves delivered to Sensirion are particularly suited for vacuum applications with large volume pumping and venting processes. The valves can easily endure vibration generated by large gas flows and are extremely durable.

“Once production scales up, the medical flow sensors can be quickly manufactured in large volumes. This will allow device manufacturers around the world to quickly produce reliable and accurate respiratory devices in much greater numbers as the crisis continues,” Dostmann says.