Bengaluru-Based DRDO Lab Develops New Oxygen Delivery System To Save Covid-19 Patients From Hypoxia

As the demand for medical oxygen is rising due to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in India, The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a SpO2 (Blood Oxygen Saturation) supplemental Oxygen Delivery System that could help the current pandemic situation.

The system, developed by DRDO’s Defence Bio-Engineering & Electro Medical Laboratory (DEBEL) in Bengaluru, is capable of delivering supplemental oxygen based on the SpO2 levels.

It can also prevent a person from sinking into a state of Hypoxia, which is fatal in many cases.

Hypoxia is a medical condition in which the supply of oxygen is insufficient for usual life function.

In this state, the tissues are not oxygenated adequately, usually because of an insufficient concentration of oxygen in the blood.

This is the exact situation that can be seen in many current Covid-19 cases in India.

The researchers said that the electronic hardware of the newly developed system is designed for functioning at an extreme altitude featuring low temperatures, low barometric pressures and humidity.

According to DEBEL officials: "The software safety checks incorporated into the system are critical in ensuring the functional reliability of the system in field conditions.”

However, as reported, this automatic system was primarily designed for Indian soldiers posted at extreme high-altitude areas. But now, during an unprecedented time, this can also be useful for many Covid-19 patients.

It can read the SpO2 levels of the person from a pulse oximeter module on the wrist through the wireless interface and control a proportional solenoid valve to regulate oxygen supply to the individual.

While explaining how this system works, DEBEL officials said that the system will help to deliver oxygen from a lightweight portable oxygen cylinder through a nostril.

“The system is available in various sizes 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 sustain for 750 minutes with a continuous flow of two litres per min (lpm),” added the team of developers.

According to reports, this new system is robust and also very cheap. It is already in bulk production with the industry.

The DRDO said that the oxygen supply system is a “boon” in the current Covid-19 situation because it can be used in the household for moderate Covid-19 patients for oxygen flow therapy—with flow controlled at 2/5/7/10 lpm flow.

It also said in a statement that the system also has an advantage in the household, as the oximeter would give an alarm for lower SpO2 value.

“It will automatically increase/decrease the O2 flow based on SpO2 setting which can be auto-adjusted at 2, 5, 7, 10 lpm flow rate. The optimal O2 flow rate conserves the O2 resources/O2 management and greatly increases the endurance,” DRDO added.

Meanwhile, according to another report, DRDO is likely to use light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas technology to provide oxygen supply in the Lucknow Covid facility.

This is the first time when a self-sustainable oxygen generation technology for fighter pilots would be used in makeshift hospitals in India.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has already deployed a team of DRDO officials to Lucknow to begin the process for setting up hospitals.

As reported, DRDO has developed the medical oxygen plant as a spin-off technology of the "Onboard oxygen generation system" (OBOGS) of the LCA Tejas that can provide medical grade oxygen round-the-clock at a high flow rate catering to at least 50 ventilator ICU beds.