A group of engineers working at the University of Bath have found a way to ventilate two patients at once if equipment runs out.
Ventilator machines have been in high demand during the Covid-19 pandemic for people who are struggling to breathe on their own.
Therefore, the double patient method could be vital in the fight against the virus if the number of ventilators was to run low.
Putting two people on the machine at once, however, is a complicated process, as their lung capacities must be as closely matched as possible to avoid causing damage.
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Engineers at the University of Bath have come up with a mathematical model which allows doctors to match the resistance on the machine to safely ventilate both patients.
This is a medical breakthrough and the "BathRC model" could be used all over the world.
Professor Richie Gill is the project’s principal investigator and the co-vice chair of the Centre for Therapeutic Innovation.
He said: “We are not advocating dual-patient ventilation, but in extreme situations in parts of the world, it may be the only option available as a last resort.
"The Covid crisis presents a potential risk of hospitals running short of ventilators, so it is important we explore contingencies, such as how to maximise capacity.”
He added that the solution would not be intended for critical care patients but - because people often need to be on a ventilator for several weeks - doubling up could be used for recovering patients.
“The BathRC model directly allows the restriction needed for safely ventilating two dissimilar patients using one ventilator.
“To reduce the risk of damage to a patient’s lungs, you need to ensure the correct flow of gases around the circuit by adding resistance.
"The simplest and most successful method we tried was modelled on an electrical circuit, hence the BathRC model name - where RC stands for resistance-compliance.”
So far, the model has not been tested on real people, but the Bath team's discovery is a big step forward in the fight against Covid.