Oxygen flow accelerator
Highlights:
1. Low
Cost CPAP Therapy Device
2. Additively
Manufactured Device (3D printed)
3. Power
Free (works without electricity)
4. Accelerated
oxygen flow rates of up to 60 LPM
5. Positive
pressure of up to 20 cm H2O (Recommended 10 cm H2O)
6. Aimed
at saving lives in low resource areas and during transit
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an ongoing public health crisis. The virus in moderate to severe stages affects the respiratory system requiring high flow oxygen administration. WHO recommends the use of HFNO (High Flow Nasal Oxygen),
NIPPV (Non-invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation) and CPAP/BiPAP (Continuous/Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) oxygen therapies. It has been established that the use of existing CPAP machines especially in the early stages of the Covid-19
infection reduce lung damage and allow patients to recover from the inflammatory effects. CPAP machines use mild air pressure to keep a patient’s airways open to avoid the collapse of airways.
While being highly effective, CPAP machines are very expensive and require uninterrupted electricity supply. The scarce availability of adequate facilities and discontinuous power supply is a major cause of high rate of fatalities in rural and low-resource areas in India. IIT Ropar researchers have come up with a low cost solution to deliver CPAP therapy through any oxygen source including the standard oxygen cylinder or main oxygen line at an accelerated flow rate and without the need of electricity. A research institute has developed a 3D printed, power free device ‘Jivan Vayu’ which can deliver high flow oxygen (20 – 60 LPM) while maintaining a continuous positive pressure of upto 20 cm H2O, resulting in a low cost and accessible CPAP therapy. The device is designed to maintain an FiO2 of above 40% with a PEEP (positive end-expiratory pressure) of 5-20 cm H2O. Additionally, the device houses a viral filter at the air entrainment end with a viral efficacy of 99.99%. The viral filter ensures that the entrained air does not bring in any pathogens from the environment. The design specifications have been modelled to optimize an accelerated flow of up to 60 LPM (from an oxygen cylinder) and the device has been manufactured using 3D printing.
Monetary condition will be decided based on meeting.
