Used by soldiers at high-altitude, DRDO develops life-saving oxygen system to treat Covid patients

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A device used by soldiers posted at extreme high-altitude terrains for supplementary oxygen will now come handy for the treatment of Covid-19 patients as Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed SpO2 (Blood Oxygen Saturation) supplemental Oxygen Delivery System.

Developing by DRDO’s Bengaluru laboratory, the living- saving system delivers supplemental oxygen based on the SpO2 levels and prevents the person from sinking in to a state of Hypoxia, which is fatal in most cases.

Hypoxia is a state in which the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues is inadequate to fulfill all the energy requirements of the body. This delineates the situation of a person suffering from Covid, which is the prime factor in the current crisis.

SpO2 oxygen system: The boon for the country

SpO2 (Blood Oxygen Saturation) supplemental Oxygen Delivery System has an electronic hardware, designed exclusively for functioning at extreme altitudes featuring low barometric pressures, low temperatures and humidity.

Whereas, the software ensures the functional reliability of the system in field conditions.

The system reads the Blood Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) levels of the person from a wrist-worn pulse oximeter module through wireless interface and controls a proportional solenoid valve to regulate the oxygen supply to the subject.

The oxygen is then transferred from a lightweight portable oxygen cylinder through nasal nares.

Available in various sizes, the system’s sizes range from one litre and one kg weight with 150 litres of oxygen supply to 10 litres & 10 kg weight with 1,500 litres of oxygen supply which can provide 750 minutes of continuous flow oxygen.

Built indigenously, the system is the unique amalgamation of qualities from being robust to cheap and is already in bulk production in India.

With its availability and simple to use facility for the common person, the system will greatly reduce the workload and exposure time of doctors and paramedics to monitor the SpO2 levels of the patient.

The automated and easy to use Oxygen Delivery System is a great boon particularly in these critical times when medical resources are stretched to their limits. Its rapid production will mitigate the crisis of managing huge number of covid patients in many ways all across the nation.