Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) has developed a prototype of a low-cost ventilator that can be useful in the fight against COVID-19.
The frugal mechanical ventilator came to life on Wednesday afternoon and passed all laboratory tests from the engineering perspective. The acceptance from the medical community is yet to be checked as they have a better understanding of patient-specific breathing conditions," Dr Majid Hamid Koul, an engineer associated with the project told ETV Bharat.
The ventilator named ‘Ruhdaar’ has been developed in collaboration with the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar.
"Ruhdaar will be handed over to the team of experts at Srinagar's Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (Soura) for evaluation. But that will happen once our team will be fully satisfied with the functioning of the prototype," Dr Majid said, adding that the name Ruhdaar (Full of Life) was chosen because it will make patients healthy again.
According to the innovators, the idea was initiated by the IUST's Design and Innovation Centre (DIC) in collaboration with two engineers from NIT.
"The prototype was developed at the DIC under the supervision of Dr Shahkar Nehvi. Two engineers - Dr Majid Hamid Koul and Dr Saad Parvez from NIT were roped in for support and guidance while Dr Shabir Hassan who works in an American University was the mentor of the team," it's public relation officer (PRO), Murshid Khan told ETV Bharat.
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He further said, "The team was working on this project for many weeks but the Ruhdaar came to life this Wednesday. The ventilator prototype will cost not more than Rs 15,000 per piece."
FOR COMMERCIAL USE?
According to IUST's PRO, the manufacturing of ventilators will start commercially only after the approval of medical experts.
"Our team has developed a prototype. The possibility of one ventilator to be used by more than one patient, further improvement in the ventilator and commercial manufacturing will depend on the assessment of medical experts," he said.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of the University Prof (Dr) Mushtaq Sidique too expressed his joy over the successful completion of the project.
"I am thrilled! Our team has achieved something that no one has been able to do in the world. It is made in Kashmir and its components are mostly local. This is a moment of pride not only for me but for whole Jammu and Kashmir," Prof Sidique told ETV Bharat
Prof Sidique, who retired from SKIMS in 2012 and is a renowned immunologist himself, believes that the prototype is perfect and is hopeful that the medical fraternity will accept it without any changes.
"When I left SKIMS, there were around 10 ventilators for the whole hospital. If approved, DIC can produce that number in just seven days," he said, adding, "Right now, everything depends on our medical fraternity to accept or to reject. It's their call. They can suggest modifications if at all is necessary. As a doctor, I believe the Ruhdaar is all right."
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The innovators' team included Dr Shahkar Nehvi, coordinator at the DIC, two NIT engineers - Dr Majid Hamid Koul and Dr Saad Parvez, Shuaib Peerzada, an IUST assistant professor, two former students of the university Asif Shah and Zulqarnain, and Jawaaz Ahmad, a design fellow at the DIC. Dr Shabir Hassan was the mentor of the whole project.
HOW MANY VENTILATORS ARE IN J&K?
According to the official data available to the media, there are a total of 208 ventilators across hospitals (including private) in Jammu and Kashmir. Out of these, 96 are in hospitals falling under the Jammu region while the remaining 112 are in Kashmir division. Also, the administration had sought 400 more but have received just 34 so far.
CORONA CASES CONTINUE TO SURGE
The Coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir continued to surge, while the Kashmir division is the most affected as the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in J&K climbed to 427 on Thursday with the death toll 5.
Across J&K, the number of cases started rising with UT reporting 20 fresh cases. The total number of cases in Kashmir division has now reached 370. Kashmir has recorded 19 new cases while one case came from Jammu.
