Now, one oxygen cylinder can help 6 patients, thanks to Indian Navy
At a time of medical emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, personnel at the Visakhapatnam Naval Dockyard have designed an innovative portable arrangement using which one can connect one oxygen cylinder to six people.
At a time of medical emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, personnel at the Visakhapatnam Naval Dockyard have designed an innovative portable arrangement using which one can connect one oxygen cylinder to six people.
The “Portable Multi-feed Oxygen Manifold (MOM)” uses a six-way radial header fitted to a single cylinder to enable critical care management to a larger number of COVID patients with the existing limited resources.
#IndiaFightsCorona#IndianNavy Dockyard, #Vizag, innovates, developes Portable Multi-feed Oxygen Manifold (MOM) enabling supply of Oxygen to six patients at a time.
This enables #CriticalCare management to a larger number of #COVID patients (1/3).@SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/kw3RuZlirw— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 30, 2020
The entire set up was made operational by the manufacture of a Fine Adjustment Reducer and specific adapters of requisite dimensions for connecting the Oxygen cylinder and the portable MOM, said a release.
The preliminary trials of the entire assembly was conducted at Visakhapatnam Naval Dockyard and this was followed by rapid trials at the Naval Hospital INHS Kalyani wherein the portable MOM was successfully set up within 30 minutes, it said.
A typical Oxygen providing facility in hospitals comprises of an oxygen cylinder feeding only one patient through a vent mask arrangement. During the pandemic, ventilator support will be required for about 5-8 per cent of patients with symptoms whereas a large number would require oxygen support, it said.
Related news: Govt announces steps to ensure uninterrupted oxygen supply to hospitals
As the existing facilities are not adequate to cater for such large requirements, a need was felt to design a suitable portable arrangement that could provide oxygen through masks to a number of needy patients using a single cylinder during emergencies.
The preliminary trials of the entire assembly was conducted at MI Room at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. This was followed by rapid trials at the Naval Hospital INHS Kalyani wherein the portable MOM was successfully set up within 30 minutes.
After successful trials, the Naval Dockyard has commenced manufacture of 10 portable MOM with two six-way radial headers catering for 120 patients at makeshift locations to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, the release added.
(With inputs from agencies)