How these portable ventilators can save lives in the midst of Corona Chaos!
Scarcity is the mother of all invention! This fact has always held true even in the midst of the darkest times when the world is struggling against the deadly threat; there are people who are using science to fight against this deadly virus.
It is so dangerous that by the time you finish reading this article, it might be possible that thousands of people might test positive with this disease. With an increasing number of cases, the medical infrastructure has taken a backseat and doctors are rejecting cases due to the non-availability of medical facilities.
It is true that Coronavirus has taken over the world, hundreds of people are infected and many more are getting infected, lack of medical infrastructure would create a great mess for so large populations.
Position in India
As per the report, India has roughly 40000 ventilators for 1.3 billion people, which are clearly not enough. India would need around 100 times more ventilators if it is to save his dying population from this deadly virus. Since the world is buying the existing stock of ventilators, the Indian government has asked local manufacturers to start their production in order to cope up with the demand.
As per recent data, India could only manufacture 5,500 units of ventilators in a month and around 70,000 in a year. However, if in case, coronavirus spreads at a rate it spread around the world, these numbers would not be enough to save lakh of people from the infected virus.
The Indian response
With the data clearly showing that India would need around 40 lakh ventilators if this disease spreads with the existing rate, the innovation took this threat as an opportunity to serve the country and developed a low-cost portable the ventilator that could prove a real boon for humanity at large.
The company, PBOPLUS Consulting, based out of Okhla Delhi, has developed a low-cost portable ventilator to ease the load on already overused medical infrastructure.
What is a low-cost portable ventilator?
The portable ventilator is basically a small ventilator bag that is equipped with the compressing actuator which can be calibrated to pump (with a specific time period) a specified volume of air, depending upon the requirement.
Basically, it is a small automatic machine which will do breathing for you.
The bag is secured to the patient and the ventilator bag is dilated and compressed, using the machine to provide airflow.
What is the actual utility of this portable ventilator?
This portable ventilator might not be a good substitute for a full-size ventilator; however, it has its own utility to save precious lives. This portable ventilator can be used in the following circumstances;
1. Cases where there is an urgent need for ventilation since it is possible that in so much chaos, hospitals might be full. So, for the patient who is facing breathing problems, this portable solution could be a perfect boon.
2. People living in remote areas are the one who has little or no access to medical facilities. Hence, even in those areas, this small ventilator could prove very useful.
3. Families who are providing in-home care to patients who have respiratory problems.
4. Any other place, where the patient needs ventilation, but it is not available due to any reason.
Cost of this Portable Ventilator
The cost of this low-cost portable ventilator is less than the cost of a branded shirt, i.e. only INR 3,000/-. With these very low-cost people, it is highly reachable and effective for most of our population.
The real hurdles
The company claims that they have tested this product and it is working absolutely fine, however, since it is medical equipment, it would need approval from the government before it can hit the market.
Unfortunately, the approval of medical equipment takes around 9 to 18 months, which is, of course, is a lot of time. Hence, the company’s director, Alaap Dayal has stated that he is ready to start the mass production of this product because after all, it is not about seizing the opportunity or profit anymore, it is about the country. So, if this portable ventilator can really save lives, then this must not be held just because a few papers are pending.
A brighter future
Currently, humanity is going through one of the greatest tragedies of all time, people dying on streets, crying in pain, medical infrastructure is collapsing, and a complete lockdown has punctured the wheels of the economy which is another threat piling up in the form of a great depression.
But, it is said that when the night is dark and full of terrors, just keep moving and experience the brighter sun ahead. The rain will come, the night will end and the life, even though struggling at this point of the moment, will win all battles against dire powers. Let us all stay united, support the government, follow social distancing and beat this unwanted threat to lead a life full of dreams ahead.
Connect
To connect with the company, drop an email to [email protected], or visit the official LinkedIn page














