New Delhi: To increase the life span of Medical Oxygen Cylinders three times, the Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar has developed a first-of-its-kind oxygen rationing device – Amlex, which delivers the required amount of oxygen to the patient during inhalation and exhalation of carbon dioxide by the patient. supplies. This process saves oxygen which is wasted unnecessarily.
As of now, the oxygen that remains in the oxygen cylinder/pipe during exhalation is also released out when the user exhales carbon dioxide. This leads to the dissipation of a large amount of oxygen over a long period of time. Additionally, due to the continuous flow of life-saving gas into the mask, a large amount of oxygen is released into the atmosphere through the openings of the mask during the resting period (between inhalation and exhalation) . As we have seen that the demand for medical oxygen has increased manifold during the second wave of COVID-19, this device will help in preventing unwanted wastage of oxygen.
Professor Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT, Ropar said, “The device can operate on both portable power supply (battery) and line supply (220 watt-50 Hz). It has been developed by Mohit Kumar, Ravinder Kumar and Amanpreet Chandra, PhD students of the Institute’s Department of Biomedical Engineering under the guidance of Dr. Ashish Sahni, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Dr. Sawhney said, “Amlex being specially made for oxygen cylinders, can be easily connected between the oxygen supply line and the mask worn by the patient. It uses a sensor that senses and successfully detects the user’s inhalation and exhalation in any environmental condition.” This ready-to-use device works with any commercially available oxygen therapy mask that has multiple openings for air flow.
Appreciating this innovation, the Director of Research and Development, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Dr. G.S. Wander said that as we all have learned the importance of effective and practical use of life-saving oxygen in these times of pandemic, a device like this can really help limit oxygen use in small rural and semi-urban health centers. is.
Pro. Rajiv Arora said that the country now needs quick but safe solutions to combat COVID-19. Since the virus is affecting the lungs and later the patient’s respiratory system, the institute does not intend to patent the device. Instead, IIT Ropar would be happy to transfer this technology free of cost to people who are willing to do mass production of the device, in the interest of the nation, he added.