Covid-19 battle: GOC develops low-cost ventilator under 'Project SWAAS'

In an effort to join hands with the nation in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, Golden Rock Railway workshop (GOC), Tiruchy developed a low-cost ventilator under 'SWAAS project' which meets the required clinical parameters.

Tiruchirappalli (Tamil Nadu): In view of the demand for ventilators amid COVID-19 pandemic, Golden Rock Railway workshop (GOC), Tiruchy, has developed a low-cost ventilator under 'SWAAS project' which meets the required clinical parameters.

At Rs 25000, the ventilator has multiple modes of operation along with a pendant for the patient to alert the medical professional by means of a buzzer and an emergency stop. It operates on 230 V AC power supply along with battery backup for 24 hours operation ensuring uninterrupted working even in case of power failure.

Real-time monitoring of control parameters is facilitated through an LCD display unit.

The low-cost ventilator was developed by a team comprising officers, engineers and doctors from Railway Hospital- Perambur, Ponmalai & Madurai, Govt. Medical College Kottayam, AIIMS Delhi.

Amid the nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the group was brought together through Whatsapp and virtual meetings.

After the technical requirements were finalised, simplicity of design, portability, the feasibility of mass production with available resources were

Majority of the components used for the system were made in house and the rest of them were procured through trade. Based on the feedback from Pulmonologist, Railway Hospital, further improvement is being made by incorporating pressure & flow sensor which will accurately monitor the Peak Inspiratory Pressure(PIP) and Positive Peak expiratory Pressure(PEEP) and Inspired volume which may further increase the cost.

Once the prototype is approved by the competent authority, the GOC workshop is planning to start bulk manufacturing of ventilator as per demand.

India has recorded 18,601 positive COVID-19 cases and 559 casualties till date.