As India is known for its efficiency in the world, the nation keeps proving itself amid the disastrous situation. It was back in the year 2020 that the world witnessed what India is and once again it is walking on the same path.
On Wednesday, May 12 the PM CARES fund announced the approval of Rs 322.5 crores for 1.5 lakh units of oxygen supply systems by DRDO.
The PM CARES fund on Wednesday approved the sanction of Rs 322.5 crores for procurement of 1,50,000 ‘Oxycare’ systems comprising 1,00,000 manual and 50,000 automatic oxygen supply systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
What is Oxycare System?
Oxycare is a SpO2 based Oxygen supply system. It regulates the Oxygen being dispensed to the patients. It administrates sensor-based SpO2 levels of patients. Along with the 1,50,000 oxycare systems non-rebreather masks will also be procured.
In a press conference, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said “The Oyxcare system delivers supplemental oxygen based on the SpO2 levels and prevents the person from sinking into a state of hypoxia which can be fatal. This system was developed by Defence Bio-Engineering & Electro Medical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bengaluru of DRDO for soldiers posted at extreme high-altitude areas. The system is indigenously developed for operation in field conditions and is robust. It can effectively treat COVID-19 patients.”
How do Oxycare systems work?
The DEBEL has put two different variants out; one is basic and another an automatic.
The basic variant comprises a 10-liter oxygen cylinder, a pressure regulator which also works as a flow controller, a humidifier, and a nasal cannula whereas the automatic variant is equipped with electronic controls.
The basic variant works manually based on the readings of SpO2. The second variant being automated regulates the oxygen flow automatically via a low-pressure regulator and a SpO2 probe.
How it proves its efficacy?
- The system supplies the oxygen based on its SpO2 reading of the patient and thus increases the vitality of portable oxygen cylinders.
- Workload and exposure of health care workers are considerably reduced, unlike the manual system the health staff only has to adjust the system at the initial stage of installing it to the patient and then after it monitors the SpO2 levels continually on the display.
- It eliminated the need for routine measurements and manual adjustments of oxygen flow.
- Various failure scenarios are handled beforehand as the system gives out a suitable audio warning including low SpO2 values and probe disconnections.
- Oxygen can be saved by 30-40% by using it efficiently as the oxycare systems are integrated with the non-rebreather masks. These masks need to be changed with every patient.
- Even these systems are portable enough to be used at homes, quarantine centres, hospitals, and Covid care centres.
This newly developed technology by DRDO is forwarded to many industries in India which will be producing the Oxycare systems.
How and under what circumstances do PM CARES fund works?
PM CARES Fund is a public charitable trust registered under the Registration act, 1908 at New Delhi on 27th March 2020 under the name of Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund. This was set up in 2020 with a cause of collecting a potential fund that can be used as a reserve in distress situations to deal with. PM CARES fund is registered as a Public Charitable Trust.
[author title=”Shreya Gohel” image=”http://localhost/gc2/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210127_014031.jpg”]Intern, Goa Chronicle[/author]
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