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 helpof 3D Printing Technology have designed 4-way ventilator splitters which canhelp in quadrupling the ventilator capacity of hospitals in the quickestpossible time which will potentially guarantee that there is no shortage ofventilators during emergency.
“Splitters are simple 3D printed designs that have oneinput and multiple outputs to connect one ventilator to multiple patients atthe same time. They have been used in many countries to cope with the shortageof ventilators in view of the huge patient influx,” said the statement,adding DIC@IUST has developed twodesigns of splitters (14 in number) which were tested at SKIMS.
The statement said these splitters can be used to supportmultiple patients simultaneously during this acute period of coronavirusspread. “Understanding the seriousness of COVID19 spread and doctors beingthe first line of defence, DIC@IUST also designed and built a low cost, easy toassembly face splash guard for doctors and health workers of Kashmir bringingrelief to them. The guard is a very simple model designed by using transparentfile 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 PantHospital, 21 to SKIMS, 80 to CD Hospital, 61 to District Hospital Pulwama and26 to IUST quarantine centre.