It was a proud second for Dr Khushboo Rakha, Assistant Professor of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at IIT-Ropar.
Rakha alongside along with her staff on the Institute’s ‘Advanced Materials and Design Lab’ developed ‘Jeevan Vayu’ – the primary of its type in India, a power-free, life-saving machine for prime throughput and low price steady constructive. Airway stress (CPAP) remedy – which they hope to assist save lives.
The machine has been mechanically examined and developed at IIT-Ropar, and the staff has collaborated for 3D printing with Suresh Chand, Faculty in cost, Rapid Prototyping Lab, Siemens Center of Excellence at Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh.
With COVID-19 spreading to villages and small cities, a stagnant energy provide is rising as a serious concern for sufferers who rely upon oxygen concentrators and ventilators. This is the place Jeevan Vayu, Dr. Rakha says, will assist save lives in low-resource areas and through transit.
“We felt an pressing must develop such a tool after we noticed that numerous COVID sufferers succumbed to lack of oxygen. We began work on ‘Jeevan Vayu’ in March,” defined Dr. Rakha.
The COVID-19 virus, in average to extreme levels, impacts the respiratory system requiring excessive circulate oxygen administration and the World Health Organization (WHO) use of HFNO (excessive circulate nasal oxygen), NIPPV (non-invasive constructive stress air flow) recommends. and CPAP/BiPAP (steady/two-stage constructive airway stress) oxygen remedy.
It has been established that using current CPAP machines, particularly within the early levels of COVID-19 an infection, can cut back lung injury and permit sufferers to recuperate from the inflammatory results of the virus. CPAP machines use gentle air stress to maintain the affected person’s airway open and stop collapse.
“But there was a common concern,” Dr. Rakha mentioned, “Doctors had been involved that their sufferers might suffocate of their sleep if their CPAPs misplaced energy at night time. Power failures trigger extra critical issues for sufferers with average to extreme respiratory infections And affected person loss of life can elevate critical considerations about affected person training in using CPAP gadgets, particularly within the case of energy outages.
“This 3D printed, power-free device can deliver high flow oxygen (20 – 60 lpm) while maintaining a constant positive pressure of up to 20 cm H2O, resulting in low cost and accessible CPAP therapy. Designed to maintain more than 40 percent FiO2 (the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) is the concentration of oxygen in the gas mixture) with a PEEP (positive end-expiratory pressure) of 20cm H2O,” says Dr. Rakha.
Additionally, the machine has a viral filter on the air inlet finish with a viral efficacy of 99.99%.
The viral filter ensures that the air entered doesn’t carry any pathogens from the surroundings. The design specs are tailor-made to optimize fast circulate of 60 lpm (from an oxygen cylinder), designed and examined to be leak-proof.
During the summer time, the demand for electrical energy will increase, and the distribution system, which is already fragile, turns into overloaded, typically inflicting energy provide interruptions.
Rural India is more likely to be affected essentially the most by these energy cuts, with authorities knowledge displaying that round 39,000 well being sub-centres in rural India had been functioning with out electrical energy provide.
‘Jeevan Air’ can be utilized by way of a traditional oxygen cylinder or by way of the primary oxygen line to offer fast circulate charges with out electrical energy.
“The equipment is ready for medical examination and we have also given a device to PGI. Presently we are seeking industrial cooperation at the earliest for commercialization of this life saving device and I think it will cost around Rs 3,500,” Dr Rakha mentioned.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
