Researchers at PES University say the cost of dialysis could come down by at least 40 percent with this new device

The University claims this would be of particular help for those in rural areas where there are frequent power cuts and the shortage of water
PES University students who designed the new dialysis machine
PES University students who designed the new dialysis machine

Hundreds of lives are lost every day in Karnataka. Some, due to lack of infrastructure in the healthcare sector and the others, as they cannot afford treatment. A group of students of PES University believe that they can address the issue to a certain extent. A group of students from the University have designed a dialysis machine with which they promise affordable treatment for many. The University claims this is the first such device to be manufactured in India. 

The deployment of central dialysate distribution system eliminates the need for having a hydraulic system for every dialysis machine

Shrijith Sharma, Research Assistant

A project funded by the department of science and technology, the government of Karnataka has seen the participation of students from across the engineering branches. The prototype of this dialysis machine is designed by the students. Shrijith Sharma,  research assistant,  CORI Lab, PES University says that as against the ones available in the market, this dialysis machine that they have designed helps many patients avail dialysis at a given time. 

Sharma adds that this would be of particular help for those in rural areas where there are frequent power cuts and the shortage of water. "The deployment of central dialysate distribution system eliminates the need for having a hydraulic system for every dialysis machine," he explains. 

The machine can display data providing timely data on filtration rate, pressure, adequacy of dialysate compositing and other parameters

The cost of device used to manufacture the dialysate which is essential for dialysis is high. The equipment developed by these students would help prepare the dialysate in a dedicated system and later distribute it to patients. With this, over six patients can undergo dialysis simultaneously. "This will bring down the cost of dialysis by at least 40 percent," explains Sharma. 

First in India: A patient getting Dialysis treatment

App linked 

Not only does the dialysis machine cut down the cost of dialysis treatment but could also be a solution to address the shortage of skilled manpower in rural areas. Keshav Lohani, another research assistant who is part of the same team says there is more the dialysis machine can do. Linked to a tablet, the machine can display data providing timely data on filtration rate, pressure, adequacy of dialysate compositing and other parameters. 

"A doctor sitting elsewhere can directly access this data as the dialysis is underway. This can address the issue of shortage of doctors," he adds. Shrijith Sharma, Gaurav Somani and Keshav Lohani, researchers from three different branches, electrical, computer science and mechanical have been working on the project with other students for over two years now and are being guided by Dr V K Agarwal, director of the CORI Lab. 

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
EdexLive
www.edexlive.com