Very useful Covid related innovations by DRDO and IAF
Anil Bhat
On June
01, 2020, Ministry of Defence announced that Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) has developed a disinfection unit named Ultra Swachh (clean)
to disinfect a wide range of materials, including Personal Protective Equipment
(PPEs), electronics items, fabrics, etc. Institute of Nuclear Medicine &
Allied Sciences (INMAS), DRDO’s Delhi based laboratory has developed this
product with industry partner M/s Gel Craft Healthcare Private Ltd, Ghaziabad.
The
system uses an advanced oxidative process comprising of multiple barrier
disruption approach using Ozonated Space Technology for disinfection. The
system is double layered with specialised Ozone sealant technology assuring
trapping of ozone for the necessary disinfection cycle. It also has catalytic
converter to ensure environment friendly exhaust i.e. only
oxygen and water. In compliance with International Standards of Industrial,
Occupational, Personal and Environmental Safety, the Ultra Swachh comes in two
variants, namely Ozonated Space and Trinetra Technology. Trinetra technology is
the combination of Ozonated space and radical dispenser. Treatment is optimised
with automation for quick disinfection cycle.
Ultra Swachh,
which operates on 15 Ampere, 220 Volts, 50 Hertz power supply, has been
provided with various safety features such as emergency shutdown, door
interlocks, dual door, delay cycle, and leak monitors, etc to ensure safe operations
for longer duration. Dimensions of the Industrial Cabinet are 7’x4’x3.25’ to
disinfect a large quantity at a time. Cabinets of different sizes will be
available for the industry.
On June 8, 2020, Indian Air Force
(IAF) announced that it has designed, developed and inducted an Airborne Rescue Pod for
Isolated Transportation (ARPIT), which will be utilised for evacuation of
critical patients with infectious diseases including COVID-19 from high
altitude area, isolated and remote locations.
The requirement
of an air evacuation system with facility to prevent spread of infectious
aerosol from a COVID-19 patient during air travel was felt by IAF when COVID-19
was declared as a pandemic. The first prototype was developed at 3 Base Repair Depot,
Air Force and has undergone various modifications. Supporting the “Atmanirbhar
Bharat” (self-reliant India) call by the Prime Minister, only indigenous
materials have been used to fabricate this pod. This indigenously designed
system has been developed at a cost of Rs Sixty Thousand only, which is one hundredth
the cost of the imported systems i.e. Rs Sixty Lakh (60,00,000)
The system
has been developed as a lightweight isolation system made from aviation
certified material. It has a transparent and durable cast Perspex for enhanced
patient visibility which is larger, higher and wider than the existing models.
The isolation system caters for suitable number of air exchanges, integration
of medical monitoring instruments, and ventilation to an intubated patient. In
addition, it generates high constant negative pressure in the isolation chamber
for prevention of infection risk to aircrew, ground crew and health care
workers involved in air transportation. The ARPIT utilises High Efficiency
Particulate Air (HEPA) H-13 class filters and supports invasive ventilation
using Transport Ventilator. The design integrates life support and monitoring
instruments (defibrillator with multipara monitor, pulse oximeter, Infusion
pumps etc), long arm gloves for use by health care professionals and power pack
with high endurance. Design requirements have been evolved and are based on the
guidelines issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), National
Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) and Centre
for Disease Control (CDC), USA. The IAF is
inducting seven ARPITS to begin with.
The author,
a strategic analyst, can be contacted at wordsword02@gmail.com
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