GUWAHATI:
Assam man
Milan Jyoti Das
is all set to revolutionise the process of
swab collection
for
Covid-19 test in the region with his innovation that minimises the risk of contamination of frontline workers.
In Das's innovative system, frontline workers can collect the swab from the safety of a sanitized chamber that does away with the need for personal protective gears. The Meghalaya health department is expected to be one of the first in the region to adopt this technology for the safety of its frontline staff.
A technical assistant with the Institute of Advanced Studies in Science & Technology (IASST), Das said the system can be carried to remote areas as it works on solar energy. In hospitals and other test centres, such chambers are being used but the workers have to be masked and wrapped in
PPE
. Das's innovation only requires the use of gloves.
‘Came up with this tech considering cost of PPE’Das said on Thursday, “Considering the cost of PPE kits, I came up with this technology. Now health workers will not have to wear PPE.”
“Every time the swab is collected, the chamber gets disinfected automatically. Ultra violet radiation is used to disinfect the chamber initially. Since it is harmful to the body, the chamber is sanitised before the health worker steps in,” added Das.
A Bangalore-based organisation has helped Das financially to put together his innovation. In the last few months under lockdown, he completed his work in suburban Mirza, on the outskirts of Guwahati.
The organisation has been actively working among health workers in various parts of the country, including Meghalaya. Das is soon expected to carry his innovative system to Meghalaya.
“I first heard about this technology in Kerala, which is leading in the fight against the virus. But we have not seen it in this part of the country,” added Das. The metal chambers cost around Rs 65,000 and can provide effective service for at least two years.
Das said he loves taking up challenges. Though an Arts graduate, he has around 45 innovations to his credit. Many of the innovations were done before he joined IASST as an innovator. Later, he was absorbed as a technical assistant.
Among his noteworthy innovations are artificial hands made of rubber and polymer.
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