Compact ventilation system to help health workers breathe easy in PPE kits
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 17
Medical staff and health workers deployed on Covid-19 related duties in medical facilitates and other high risk places may soon be relieved of sweating out long hours in heavy suffocating personal protection equipment (PPE) kits.
In a project supported by the Department of Science and Technology’s National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board, a compact and economical ventilation system for PPE kits has been developed by a Pune-based engineering student which prevents excessive sweating while wearing such kits.
Christened ‘Cov-Tech Ventilation System’, the gadget keeps the individual well ventilated and prevents not only bodily discomforts but also possible fungal accumulation and infection in the body when it is attached with the conventional PPE kits with one simple modification.
It can be fastened over the waist just like a simple belt over which the traditional PPE is worn and can provide comfort to the wearer. The design of the ventilation system ensures a complete air seal from the PPE kit and provides a breeze of fresh air to the user in a gap of just 100 seconds.
The product, developed at a state-of-the-art prototyping facility, has been finalised as per the medical experts’ advice, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology today.
Thousands of doctors, paramedics, hospital staff as well as other employees and volunteers deployed in medical care facilities, undertaking sanitary duties or other services across the country are required to wear kits that cover the entire body so as to mitigate the risk of contracting infection.
The student, Nihaal Singh Adarsh, who also has a start-up, had received the Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring Technology Entrepreneurs (PRAYAS) grant of Rs 10 lakh from the Department of Science and Technology for prototype development and product innovation. His startup also received an additional Rs 5 lakh as support from different institutes.
