The devices will help in altering ICU ventilators to host multiple patients at the same time and augmenting large-scale oxygen supply chains. Furthermore, these devices are ready for mass deployment to support healthcare institutions and hospitals to optimize their resources to the fullest immediately.
India’s battle against COVID19 is peaking at the moment with daily tolls breaking records. At this crucial juncture, iCreate has announced the launch of critical health-tech devices developed by three respective startups incubated with the institution. The devices will help in altering ICU ventilators to host multiple patients at the same time and augmenting large-scale oxygen supply chains. Furthermore, these devices are ready for mass deployment to support healthcare institutions and hospitals to optimize their resources to the fullest immediately.
Developed by Social Hardware, 3D printed splitter is a unique ventilator expansion device that allows a single ventilator to support up to two or four patients during a time of acute equipment shortage. The splitter is available either in 1 x 2 or 1 x 4 model, making it possible to host 2 or 4 patients on the same equipment, respectively. Specifically designed to bypass ventilator deficiency, these 3D printed devices can be developed using already available materials or materials from the existing medical devices and produced at minimum cost.
The startup also has developed a second device; Venturi Valve Respirator that can be used for airflow control through varying its annular orifice to modulate the flow of air. The cone is situated on an actuated shaft, which enables flow control through the full range (0%-100%) of the valve. Applying the venturi effect in the tube, the valve is powered by a stream of pure oxygen (100% O2) and is diffused with an air stream (21% O2) resulting in a high flow, high oxygen stream at the outlet. It is 3D printed as a single consolidated part that requires no assembly.
The IoT-enabled solution Chief Beta (Industrial IOT Gateway) developed by Limelight IT solutions, is an industrial gateway that can easily plug into the oxygen supply lines of hospitals and allied healthcare institutions to monitor, perform audits, detect and send leakage alerts. The solution, ready to be deployed on a large scale, will help in monitoring the oxygen supply network in real-time from a single automated dashboard.
Oxyter developed by RedCarbon TechnoHub is a portable Oxygen Generator that works on Electrolysis. The innovation aims to reduce the complexity, mass, size, and environmental impact along with power consumption required for O2 generation. The system developed by RedCarbon does not require a compressor instead works on a simple model of gas/liquid separation device during water electrolysis. The current prototype can generate 2 Litres of oxygen per hour (can be easily scaled up) with a cost limited to Rs. 2 to Rs 3 /Litre. The purity of the oxygen generated is estimated to be 90-95 %. The startup is in the process of going for manufacturing.
Talking about the innovations, Anupam Jalote, CEO, iCreate said; “We are going through the toughest of times, with morbid news coming in at all hours. With the healthcare system in the country being stretched thin, deploying pragmatic technological interventions is the need of the hour. The most pressing need being an augmented O2 supply chain across the country. Having an IoT-backed platform to remotely monitor and audit oxygen supply alongside devices like ventilator splitters, respiratory valves, and lost cost oxygen generators will support India’s existing infrastructure and help us utilize our resources to the maximum. These innovations that our startups have come up with are cost-effective and quickly deployable. It is during this period that we can truly bank on technology and our innovation ecosystem to alleviate the situation and help us manage it better.”
iCreate will be spearheading the process for these innovations to be deployed across hospitals. Gauging the demand for state-of-the-art hardware technology solutions, the incubator will work closely with the startups to augment the production and supply chain.
Recently, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in its circular had decided to expand its scope for CSR to include funds spent on COVID-19 related activities. In this regard, the Social Impact Team at Invest India recognized and included the three startups incubated at iCreate in its repository of technologies from technology incubators focused on COVID-19 intervention that can be supported by the aforementioned CSR spending.
Social Hardware is a Bangalore-based hardware tech company developing technological solutions to problems identified by impact organizations, non-profits working at grassroots, rural or urban levels. They have been associated with key areas including medical devices, assistive devices, frugal innovation.
LimelightIT solutions is an Ahmedabad-based industrial solutions startup with clients like JBM, Tata motors, Coventry coils, etc. The startup provides IoT-enabled solutions across industries including Enterprise & Factories, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Education, Hospitality.
RedCarbon TechnoHub is a nanotechnology startup based in Ahmedabad/Mumbai. Focused on interdisciplinary research, the company has developed a total of 9 technologies against the COVID19 pandemic and has commercialized two of them. The technology innovations are currently patent pending.
Source: Business World
