Indian company makes 'affordable' ventilator that does not need electricity
What's the story
In a major development, a Bengaluru-based technology company has created an 'affordable ventilator' that does not need electricity to function. The machine comes at a price of Rs. 2,500 per unit - the most affordable of its kind - and could come really handy in helping India fight the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19. Here's all about it.
Ventilator
Dynamatic Tech and its low cost ventilator
Developed by Dynamatic Tech, a company making engineered products for aerospace and automotive giants like Airbus and Boeing, the low-cost ventilator features no electronic or imported components. It looks pretty different from ventilators seen in hospitals but works just fine by maintaining maximum/minimum pressure and controlling the oxygen mix for enabling a controlled breathing system.
Usage
This could be critical for rural healthcare
The development of the ventilator was lauded by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant. "#DynamaticTech is an integral part of the supply chain for Airbus & Boeing. It is a leading auto component manufacturer & is a top class engineering company," he said, noting that their "innovation is critical for rural primary health centres & local hospitals" and India needs it to save lives.
Twitter Post
Here's the tweet from Kant
Indian innovation: This is the lowest cost ventilator in the world developed by @DynamaticTech in Bengalaru.
— Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) April 19, 2020
Zero electricity. No imports. No electronic components.Maintains Max / Min pressure. Controlled Oxygen mix
Controlled Breathing rate.
Price: Rs.2,500 per ($33) pic.twitter.com/cD4v16jING
Delivery
50,000 ventilators to be delivered
Given the concerns over the coronavirus crisis, the Dynamatic Tech team is expected to deliver 50,000 of these low-cost ventilators to hospital facilities, the Times of India reported. Notably, the disposable, portable, and easy-to-use design of these ventilators will also make it relatively easy to deliver them to healthcare facilities in remote parts of India.
Shortage
India is racing to scale up ventilator capacity
The development of the device comes as India races to get its ventilator capacity up and brace for critical COVID-19 cases. The country has already ordered some 10,000 regular ventilators from China, another 20,000 are being made by Noida-based AgVa Healthcare and Maruti Suzuki. However, they typically cost around Rs. 1.5 lakh, making the development of low-cost solutions like this one really important.
Information
Other affordable ventilators being developed
Along with Dynamatic Tech, Pune-based Nocca Robotics is building an affordable ventilator costing around Rs. 50,000 while a team at IIT Roorkee has built one that costs Rs. 25,000 per unit.