Context: CSIR-CMERI Oxygen Enrichment Unit – An Optimised Oxygen Administering Device amidst the Nationwide Oxygen Shortage.

Need:

• The entire nation is undergoing an unprecedented pandemic situation of COVID-19.
• Oxygen therapy is recommended for severe illness caused by Coronavirus.
• There is a massive short supply of Medical grade oxygen across the country.
• To meet the oxygen demand and minimize the supply chain problem of transportation and storage risks related to oxygen cylinders, CSIR-CMERI has developed ‘Oxygen Enrichment’ technology which has been transferred virtually to M/s. Apollo Computing Laboratories (P) Ltd, Kushaiguda, Hyderabad.

Oxygen Enrichment Unit

• The unit requires easily available oil free reciprocating compressor, Oxygen grade zeolite sieves and pneumatic components.
• It is capable of delivering medical air in the range of up to 15 LPM with oxygen purity of more than 90%.
• If required, this unit can even deliver up to 70 LPM at a purity of around 30% and can safely be placed in the isolation ward of the hospital for patients who are in dire need of Oxygen.
• This will help the accessibility of Oxygen in remotest places and widest points of need.
• The Outreach Factor of Oxygen will be multiplied through the adoption of this in-situ and decentralised generation of Oxygen.
• Further research is going on to develop a pulse dose mode which is capable of sensing the breathing pattern of a patient and then deliver during the inhalation only.
• This mode is supposed to reduce the oxygen demand by around 50% when compared with the current version of continuous mode.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1713400

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