PMCARES FUNDS DRDO’S 1.5 LAKH OXYCARE SYSTEMS
In a noteworthy development, the PMCARES fund has sanctioned procurement of 1,50,000 units of ‘Oxycare’ system developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at a cost of `322.5 crore.
The Oxycare system delivers supplemental oxygen and prevents the patient from sinking into a state of hypoxia which can be fatal.
It is an SpO2 based oxygen supply system which regulates the oxygen being administered to patients. (SpO2 is the saturation of arterial blood with oxygen measured by pulse oximetry).
WITH THE sanction of PM CARES funds, 1,00,000 manual and 50,000 automatic Oxycare systems along with non-rebreather masks are being procured. Two variants of the system have been configured.
According to an official press release issued here on Wednesday, this system was developed by Defence Bio-Engineering & ElectroMedical 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 be effectively used to treat Covid-19 patients.
With the sanction of PM CARES funds, 1,00,000 manual and 50,000 automatic Oxycare systems along with non-rebreather masks are being procured. Two variants of the system have been configured.
The basic version consists of a 10-litre oxygen cylinder, a pressure regulator-cum-flow controller, a humidifier and a nasal cannula.
The oxygen flow is regulated manually based on the SpO2 readings. In the second configuration, the oxygen cylinder is equipped with electronic controls which automatically regulates the oxygen flow through a low-pressure regulator and a SpO2 probe.
The system optimises the consumption of oxygen based on the SpO2 reading of the patient and effectively increases the endurance of portable oxygen cylinders.
The threshold SpO2 value for initiating flow from the system can be adjusted by the health staff. A display is provided for continuously monitoring the SpO2 levels.
Workload and exposure of healthcare providers is considerably reduced by eliminating the need for routine measurements and manual adjustments of oxygen flow. The automatic system also provides suitable audio warning for various failure scenarios including low SpO2 values and probe disconnections.
The non-rebreather masks are integrated with the Oxycare systems for efficient use of oxygen which results in saving of oxygen by 30-40%.
The non-rebreather masks need to be changed for every patient. These Oxycare systems can be used at homes, quarantine centres, covid care centres and hospitals.
The DRDO has transferred the technology to multiple industries in India which will be producing the Oxycare systems.