To help healthcare workers and supplement the shortage of ventilators, Design Innovation Centre (DIC@IUST) of Islamic University of Science and Technology has developed a multi-channel splitter for ventilators to ensure that multiple patients with lung ailments, especially COVID19 patients, can avail the life-saving support, a statement said.
It said the faculty and students at DIC@IUST with the help of 3D Printing Technology have designed 4-way ventilator splitters which can help in quadrupling the ventilator capacity of hospitals in the quickest possible time which will potentially guarantee that there is no shortage of ventilators during emergency.
“Splitters are simple 3D printed designs that have one input and multiple outputs to connect one ventilator to multiple patients at the same time. They have been used in many countries to cope with the shortage of ventilators in view of the huge patient influx,” said the statement, adding DIC@IUST has developed two designs of splitters (14 in number) which were tested at SKIMS.
The statement said these splitters can be used to support multiple patients simultaneously during this acute period of coronavirus spread. “Understanding the seriousness of COVID19 spread and doctors being the first line of defence, DIC@IUST also designed and built a low cost, easy to assembly face splash guard for doctors and health workers of Kashmir bringing relief to them.
The guard is a very simple model designed by using transparent file covers, some foam and elastic bands,” said the statement. Till date, it said the DIC has produced 261 guards, of which 58 were delivered to GB Pant Hospital, 21 to SKIMS, 80 to CD Hospital, 61 to District Hospital Pulwama and 26 to IUST quarantine centre.
