Engineers and innovators at Design Innovation Centre (DIC) of Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) have developed a prototype of a low-cost ventilator which is running successfully in the laboratory, a statement said.
The prototype named ‘Ruhdaar’ is expected to be handed overto the medical experts at the SKIMS for evaluation purposes which willimmediately begin once the innovators are satisfied with its functioning in thelaboratory.
“The raw materials for the said frugal ventilator are easilyavailable within J&K and India,” said the statement.
It said a team headed by coordinator DIC, Dr Shahkar Nehviand including Dr Majid Hamid Koul from NIT Srinagar, Peerzada Shoaib, assistantProf IUST; two IUST alumini, Asif Shah and Zulquarnain; Jawad, design fellowIUST; Dr Saad Parvaiz from NIT Srinagar, Dr Shabir Hassan from HarwardUniversity as overseas mentor and Abdul Rahim from Rahim Greens contributedtowards the designing of the prototype.
“The prototype ventilator is too cheap in comparison to whatis available in the market. While theprototype is working successfully in the laboratory, it eventually will beassessed by the medical experts who will have to use it,” said the statement.”Once the prototype is approved by medical experts, there is the possibility ofmanufacturing it for commercial use.”
The Vice Chancellor IUST, Prof Mushtaq A Siddiqi hascongratulated the team for the achievement. “I am thrilled because our teammembers have achieved it in a very short span of time. It is our own design andits components are mostly local.”
He said the University will go for patenting and handoverthe technology to a start-up or couple of start-ups so that the ventilator isproduced on the large scale.
“The prototype is fine and alright, but it depends on themedical fraternity to accept it or suggest certain modifications,” he said.