PRANA, SVASTA and VaU
GS PAPER II: Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Context: Three mechanical ventilator models and a portable medical oxygen concentrator (MOC) developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thumba, as part of the battle against COVID-19 are expected to be ready for technology transfer by the end of this month.
- Multi-disciplinary teams of space scientists at the ISRO facility had begun working on the ventilator designs—named PRANA, SVASTA and VaU (read as Vayu)—following the outbreak last year.
- The design of 'PRANA' - standing for ‘Programmable Respiratory Assistance for the Needy Aid’ - is based on an Ambu bag (a commercial manual respirator bag) PRANA delivers oxygen-rich air to the patient by automated compression of the Ambu bag using an actuator.
- Short for Space Ventilator Aided System for Trauma Assistance (SVASTA) is designed to work without electric power. The system operates on compressed air and achieves different modes of ventilation through mechanical settings alone.
- VaU, a pneumatic circuit-based system expanded as Ventilation assist Unit is a more ambitious project that eyes a low-cost, state-of-the art ventilator that can match the high-end, expensive ones in the market.
- VaU is a dual-mode ventilator that can work with either medical oxygen from the hospital or with ambient air.
- It can be used either as an ICU ventilator or as a portable or home ventilation unit. VSSC is collaborating with other ISRO centres on VaU.
'Shwaas' from VSSC
- Developed by VSSC, ‘Shwaas' is a portable Medical Oxygen Concentrator (MOC) capable of continuously delivering enriched levels of oxygen than that present in air to patients with respiratory problems or those requiring oxygen therapy.
- The device enhances the oxygen content by selectively separating nitrogen gas from ambient air through Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA).
- The device has undergone all the system-level reviews and it meets the WHO standards defined for medical oxygen concentrators.
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