Due to the second wave of
the Covid epidemic, the demand for medical oxygen increased manifold. According
to recent industrial data, the pre-pandemic Pre-pandemic pre-COVID demand
across the country was 700 tonnes per day (TPD), last year, during the first
wave of COVID-19, the demand for liquid medical oxygen (LMOs) was Quadruple the
demand 2,800 TPD happened. In addition, during the second wave, this
demand has increased from seven times the basic levels of the Covid wave to
5,000 TPD.
In order to address the worrying issue of need of oxygen to face such crisis in
future, scientists at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar have invented
oxygen rationing device 'Amlax' which can extend the life of oxygen cylinder.
Increases it to three times. The device delivers and supplies the required
amount of oxygen to the patient while inhaling, saving the flow of oxygen when
the patient expels carbon dioxide gas (CO2) while inhaling. With which a
lot of oxygen can be saved. So far, during breathing, the oxygen in the
oxygen cylinder pipe is pushed out along with the CO2 released by the consumer, During
which a large amount of oxygen is wasted. At the same time, due to the
continuous flow of oxygen in the mask, during the rest of the time (between
inhalation and exhalation), a large amount of oxygen is released from the mask
through the holes of the mask, with which oxygen is wasted.
'Amlax' is a system specially developed for oxygen cylinders. Giving
information in this context, Dr. Ashish Sahni, posted in the Department of
Biomedical Engineering, IIT Ropar, said that this system works by matching the
oxygen intake with the patient's inhalation and exhalation, as the oxygen
supply system works. The work is for a long time, so it saves a large amount of
oxygen in the reserves for this long lasting work.
Amanpreet, PhD scholar working in the team said that in the current situation,
a patient is given oxygen through an oxygen mask which is connected through a
flexible tube with an oxygen supply (such as an oxygen
cylinder). Breathing System Time, current commercially available equipment
provides a continuous flow of oxygen during both the inhalation and exhalation
cycle, which creates a temporary reservoir of oxygen in the mask, thus allowing
a continuous flow of oxygen into the mask. Due to the relaxation time (between
exhalation and inhalation), a large amount of oxygen is saved from the opening
of the mask into the environment.
Professor Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar said that this discovery is a
separate step towards accepting the challenge of thinking more in terms of
rapid technological flow. He said that instead of thinking in terms of
patents of our technology, India needs a solution to the problem to counter
this crisis and at IIT Ropar we are looking forward to a safe and healthy
future for our country and citizens at large. are following to play our
role. He said that the oxygen rationing device, 'Amlax' would be highly
beneficial and consumer-friendly to extend the life of the oxygen cylinder,
with which the demand of the needy people would be met.
He said the device is very easy to use. It can be easily connected between
its two input and output connectors and the oxygen supply line. The device
remains functional with a standard sized connector and can be used without any
unnecessary setup.
Research and Development
Director, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Dr. G. s. Wander said
that we have learned a lot about the importance of effective and proper use of
oxygen during the Kovid epidemic. Although many hospitals are building the
capacity to produce oxygen, a device like the 'Amlax' can actually help small
rural and semi-urban centers use oxygen in a way that is optimal at all times.
Oxygen supplies and especially during the second wave of the COVID 19 pandemic
when we experienced a phenomenal increase in demand for oxygen.
Elaborating further, Dr. Sawhney said that the patient's experience would be
comfortable and suffocating while using this device as the device is fully
capable of working with commercially available oxygen masks which have multiple
holes. Dr. Sawhney said that this device is useful even in the situations
of epidemic in remote areas, as it can be used with the help of portable power
supply (battery) as well as line supply (220v-50 Hz). and where the
transportation of goods and supplies is predominant, it can operate on both.
The device has been
invented by Mohit Kumar, Ravindra Kumar and Amanpreet Chandra, PhD students of
the Department of Biomedical Engineering, IIT Ropar under the leadership of Dr.
Ashish Sahni.
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