Chandigarh University uses 3D Printing Technology to diminish ventilators shortfall in India

Chandigarh University has come out with a solution to fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with the help of 3D Printing Technology. To help the healthcare sector, the University Centre for Research and Development (UCRD) has come forward. Led by Prof. Ranvijay Kumar, a team of researchers and students of Mechatronics Department have designed 2-way, 3-way and 4-way ventilator splitters. This can help in quadrupling the ventilator capacity of hospitals in the quickest possible time. The Novel Coronavirus causes respiratory distress and in severe cases, patients’ lungs lose their capacity to pump fresh oxygen into the bloodstream. As per a WHO report, India has only 48,000 ventilators and with the rise in COVID-19 cases in India, deficiency of ventilators is the biggest worry.

According to Prof. Ranvijay of CU, they have used Polylactic Acid to manufacture the splitters. It is one of the biocompatible and biodegradable thermoplastics derived from renewable sources such as tapioca, corn starch and sugarcane. From one ventilator, a splitter can allocate oxygen to four patients as they usually run at 20-30 per cent capacity. They have the potential to push 2,000 ml of oxygen per minute into the lungs. This means each ventilator can yield enough oxygen for four people.

On the urge of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Chandigarh University had established a Core Research Group. DST had asked for proposals from companies, universities and research institutions to derive technologically driven innovative solutions such as cost-effective scanning devices, low-cost masks, technologies for sanitization of large areas. Apart from this, it has also shown its interest in rapid diagnostic kits and oxygenators, contactless entry, and ventilators.

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