VSSC gets ready to help with COVID care, develops three ventilator models

The centre develops three mechanical ventilator models and a portable medical oxygen concentrator

May 09, 2021 05:51 pm | Updated May 10, 2021 10:03 am IST - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

The design of 'PRANA' - standing for ‘Programmable Respiratory Assistance for the Needy Aid’ - is based on an Ambu bag (a commercial manual respirator bag)

The design of 'PRANA' - standing for ‘Programmable Respiratory Assistance for the Needy Aid’ - is based on an Ambu bag (a commercial manual respirator bag)

Three mechanical ventilator models and a portable medical oxygen concentrator (MOC) developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thumba, as part of the battle against COVID-19 are expected to be ready for technology transfer by the end of this month.

Multi-disciplinary teams of space scientists at the ISRO facility had begun working on the ventilator designs—named PRANA, SVASTA and VaU (read as Vayu)—following the outbreak last year. They should be ready for technology transfer by May-end, VSSC director S. Somanath told The Hindu .

“Tests have been completed on the ventilator models, although the documentation is pending. The MOC is ready for technology transfer,” he said.

Short for Space Ventilator Aided System for Trauma Assistance (SVASTA) is designed to work without electric power. The system operates on compressed air and achieves different modes of ventilation through mechanical settings alone, according to a concept note on the model.

The design of PRANA, acronym for Programmable Respiratory Assistance for the Needy Aid, is based on an Ambu bag (a commercial manual respirator bag). PRANA delivers oxygen-rich air to the patient by automated compression of the Ambu bag using an actuator.

VaU, a pneumatic circuit-based system expanded as Ventilation assist Unit is a more ambitious project that eyes a low-cost, state-of-the art ventilator that can match the high-end, expensive ones in the market. VaU is a dual-mode ventilator that can work with either medical oxygen from the hospital or with ambient air. It can be used either as an ICU ventilator or as a portable or home ventilation unit. VSSC is collaborating with other ISRO centres on VaU.

The lead ISRO centre for launch vehicles such as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), the VSSC had taken on the ‘ventilator challenge’ in April 2021, following a surge in demand for the life-saving device during the first wave. The pandemic had forced ISRO to put off several space missions last year, which allowed the scientists to work on the ventilators. “A lot of the work was carried out on ‘work-from-home’ mode during last year’s lockdown,” Mr. Somanath noted.

'Shwaas' from VSSC

Developed by VSSC, ‘Shwaas' is a portable Medical Oxygen Concentrator (MOC) capable of continuously delivering enriched levels of oxygen than that present in air to patients with respiratory problems or those requiring oxygen therapy. The device enhances the oxygen content by selectively separating nitrogen gas from ambient air through Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA). “The device has undergone all the system-level reviews and it meets the WHO standards defined for medical oxygen concentrators,” according to the VSSC.

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