Dr. Stephen Richardson, a cardiac anesthesiologist at the University of Minnesota, decided to attempt to get ahead of the ventilator shortage by trying to build his own. He contacted a friend, Jim McGurran, who is the director of product development at MGC diagnostics of Vadnais Heights, Minn. Within a week, Dr. Richardson and his growing team of “engineers” had fabricated four prototypes, had run successful tests on pigs, and had manufacturing partners from around the country joining him virtually.