VNIT comes up with two-way prototype ventilator splitter
| Date :28-Apr-2020 |
Principal Correspondent :
VNIT is developing remotely operated trolley for transporting food and other items in the quarantined zones of the patients, for AIIMS
An Ultra Violate chamber for sanitization of masks and other PPEs too is under preparation
During the difficult time of pandemic of Covid 19, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) too came up to contribute. Under the guidance of its Director, Prof P M Padole, VNIT has developed, splitters and restrictors in record time, for Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) for trial to be used along with ventilators. A ventilator is what stands between life and death as it helps the patients breathe by artificially pumping oxygen through their windpipe.
According to WHO report, India has only 48,000 ventilators and as cases pick up in India, ventilators, which are in a short supply, is the biggest worry and same situation can be in our city also because count of the corona patients are increasing day by day, said Prof Padole while talking to ‘The Hitavada’. The doctors of IGGMCH, concerned with the possibility of shortfall of ventilators in days to come, contacted Dr P. M. Padole with VNIT happens to be working in the area of Bio-medical Engineering. Responding to the call, VNIT has developed a prototype two-way ventilator splitter, using digital manufacturing technology as per the requirement from the city hospital.
The prototype was handed over to IGGMCH and the trials have been conducted at surgical intensive care unit by Dr Vaishali C. Shelgaonkar, Professor Anesthesiology. The device will help doctors to use one ventilator for two patients. It is a part of preparedness of COVID ICU. The splitters were tested in both, volume and pressure mode of ventilators, in lungs with different compliances. Splitters and restrictors developed by VNIT, during testing at IGGMCH.
According to Dr. Shelgaonkar, in the event of crisis, addition of one or more splitter both on inspiratory and expiatory limbs of ventilator, in series, will help to attach one ventilator to four patients, however, it may not be feasible practically, as the four patients may have different extent of lung damages. But two patients with near similar lung pathology can easily be treated. Besides the splitters for the ventilators, VNIT has thoughtfully designed an ergonomic ear strain reliever, a small implant, which can be attached to face mask elastic so that strain on ear lobules, caused by the prolonged use of N 95 or respirator masks by the doctors, is reduced. Dr Shital Chiddarwar and Abhijit Raut, from VNIT, have taken special efforts for developing the prototype and the strain reliever.
While from IGGMCH side, Dr Vaishali C Shelgaonkar and her team of Dr Medha Sangawar, Dr Umesh Ramtani, Dr Samruddhi, Dr Ketan and Dr Nagesh have been instrumental in the development of the splitter. Dr. Shelgaonkar has expressed her gratitude towards Dr Ajay Keolia, Dean IGGMCH and Dr Ravi Chavan, Deputy Medical Superintendent for their support. In addition to the above, a team of researchers, led by Dr. Padole and Dr. Shital Chhiddarwar is working for the development of a remotely operated trolly for transporting food and other items in the quarantined zones of the patients. The product has already been designed and shortly be manufactured.
This trolly has been developed for All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Nagpur. Dr. Mrunalini Phatak, from AIIMS is coordinating the project. Working on an another project, Prof. Bhurchandi and Dr Patrikar of VNIT have developed an ultra violate chamber for sanitization of masks and other PPEs. The prototype preparation is underway and the UV chamber will also go into production shortly, informed Prof. Padole VNIT Alumni Association (VNITAA) has taken up the responsibility of financing and making available, the gadgets developed by VNIT, to the city doctors, informed Shashikant Chaudhari, Chairman of VNITAA.