COVID In Mind, ISRO Develops 3 Types Of Ventilators, Intends To Transfer Technology

Bengaluru: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed three types of ventilators, and has come forward to transfer the technology to industry for clinical usage as the country battles the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

These are: PRANA, VaU and SVASTA.

PRANA (Programmable Respiratory Assistance for the Needy Aid) is a low-cost and portable critical care ventilator. It is based on the automated compression of an AMBU (Artificial Manual Breathing unit) bag, media reports said quoting PTI.

ISRO was quoted as saying that PRANA supports both invasive and non-invasive ventilation modes and is capable of giving mandatory breaths (controlled by ventilator) as well as spontaneous breaths (controlled by the patient).

”VaU” (Ventilation assist Unit) can assist or replace spontaneous breathing in patients under respiratory distress, ISRO said.

VaU is based on a centrifugal blower which draws in filtered ambient air, compresses it and delivers it to the patient to achieve ventilation and can therefore operate without a compressed pneumatic source.

SVASTA (Space Ventilator Aided System for Trauma Assistance) is a basic mode for non-invasive ventilation, is well-suited for emergency use for first line treatment and as transit ventilators inside vehicles, according to ISRO.

The basic design is simple, and the components can be easily mass produced for emergency use in pandemic-like situations.

This ventilator, which runs on compressed air, is able to perform various ventilation conditions using manual mechanical settings. The system is capable of pressure control ventilation (PCV) in its basic mode of operation with provision for setting different tidal volumes.

The prototype of the three ventilators developed at Thiruvananthapuram-based Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), a major space research centre of ISRO, has undergone in-house test & evaluation and meets various specifications.

The responsibility of obtaining mandatory certification from approving agencies of the government of India before clinical usage vests with the industry, the ISRO note said, PTI reported.

ISRO said it intends to transfer the technology of these three ventilators toPSUs/ industries/ start-ups having good track record in manufacture of critical medical/ electronic equipment manufacturing.

It has invited interested industries/ entrepreneurs to submit their expression of interest before June 15.