IIT Ropar ‘develops’ ventilation: The researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar have developed compact and affordable ventilation support for the less critical COVID-19 patients, as per the report.

The design of a Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) machine is such that it is easy to operate and can be assembled with ease in remote areas, villages, or at home, it said.

BiPAP is a mode of ventilation that maintains positive pressure for air intake and low pressure for expiration, the statement said.

The machine is made of readily available electronic and mechanical parts and a single unit can support multiple patients, provided the airflow is sufficient, it said.

It can be used for the less critical cases where patients do not require intubation by specialized staff, the statement by the institute said.

Neha Sardana, from the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering of IIT Ropar, along with Gaurav Pal Singh, a research scholar, developed the ventilation support, it said.

The mass production of the machine would cost around Rs 6,500 per unit, the statement said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a massive challenge to healthcare services around the globe which requires innovative and immediate solutions. This BiPAP machine in the current situation aims to deliver an economical and user-friendly respiratory support for non-critical patients and a backup resource for hospitals facing ventilation shortage,” the institute said.

The mass production of the machine would cost around Rs 6,500 per unit, the statement said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a massive challenge to healthcare services around the globe which requires innovative and immediate solutions. This BiPAP machine in the current situation aims to deliver an economical and user-friendly respiratory support for non-critical patients and a backup resource for hospitals facing ventilation shortage,” the institute said.

Meanwhile, India’s tally COVID rose above the 7-lakh mark today and the death toll crossed 20,000 after another spike in cases and deaths in the past 24 hours. Coronavirus cases in India have gone up to 7,19,665, including 22,252 reported in the past 24 hours. The death toll has climbed to 20,160 with 467 new fatalities, according to the health ministry.

With this, the country has recorded over 20,000 cases of the infection for the fifth day in a row.

Recoveries in India has shown a steady rise, with the number of cured now at 4,39,947. Over 15,500 patients were declared cured in 24 hours. The recovery rate has risen above 61%.