Coronavirus Pune: Chakan engineers develop ‘cost-effective’ ventilator prototype

Coronavirus Pune: Chakan engineers develop ‘cost-effective’ ventilator prototype

Pune: A group of senior engineers has been working tirelessly to develop a high-quality ventilator to fight the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The ventilator prototype, called Jeevan Jyoti Ventilator, was developed by Col Sarang Kashikar (retd), Sujit Nadkarni, Raju Thakur, Praveen Deore, Sanjay Pisale, Yesh Sangawe, Digamber Karkhele, Sahebrao Nandale and Mahesh Pathak - with their expertise in respective fields of engineering like software, electronics, mechanical and armament.

Since March 27, Kashikar and Sangawe who belong to Nashik have been travelling to Pune for this project.

"We, a group of extended friends, wanted to create a ventilator that would be cost-effective as well as successful in healthcare facilities. The prototype was built at Nadkarni's Chakan factory and we both stayed mostly back at the factory to work on the product," Kashikar said.

He also informed that the team with the help of available spare parts of special purpose machines that are manufactured in the factory have developed the prototype.

"One ventilator can be used for multiple patients according to our design, but it won't be through one channel. Multiple channels will be installed in the ventilator, and the ventilator can be monitored and used according to each patient's parameter," Kashikar added.

The team has been closely working with doctors of KEM Hospital, Aditya Birla Hospital and Aundh Chest Hospital.

"The Hamilton ventilator is considered a benchmark and many doctors have suggested studying it. There are certain parameters and tolerances given from each and every performance we get from a ventilator. Last week, we calibrated our ventilator with all the specifications and the calibration came all-ok," Nadkarni said.

He also said "Our focus is not on making a low-cost ventilator. We consulted about the ventilator model with doctors and realized that they are expecting a reliable ventilator, so our aim is to provide such a facility."

Availability of testing equipment was a challenge; however, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) provided the testing equipment, stated the team members.

The team is waiting for clinical approval on its prototype followed by which it will begin its manufacturing under the aegis of Aditya Robotics and Automation Pvt Ltd.

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