Tiger IT Bangladesh LTD has successfully built a prototype of a low-cost ventilator amid the crisis of ventilators to fight against the novel coronavirus.
The ventilator was built using locally-sourced materials, entirely.
Tiger IT also made the digital National ID and driving licence in Bangladesh.
The company believes that such innovations will provide assistance to coronavirus patients.
Tiger IT's initiative comes at a time when ventilators are short in supply with the ruthless Covid-19 gripping Bangladesh and other countries across the globe.
Rajib Choudhury, assistant general manager of Tiger IT, while speaking to Dhaka Tribune, said: “Our prototype has been produced to ensure that a stock of ventilators is available during emergency situations arising out of growing numbers of coronavirus infections.”
“The one we built is a mechanical non-invasive ventilator similar to the ventilators that are in use in healthcare institutions. The ventilator will help in the treatment of acute cases of Covid-19 and other respiratory complications,” he added.
“The design for our prototype emulates a concept formulated by Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) USA,” he added.
Rajib also said: “This project is among various others we have been inspired to venture upon through the partnership we formed with the esteemed institution in 2019.”
According to Tiger IT, the ventilator can be wholly manufactured here at home in Bangladesh, as all the materials needed for the production can be sourced locally; as a result, the production cost is significantly affordable. The production cost for the ventilator will be a range from Tk15,000 to Tk20,000 so far.
A ventilator usually costs between Tk12 lakh to Tk20 lakh, which are used at different hospitals, mostly imported from USA. Currently, USA has slowed down the exports of ventilators to meet their own demand.
“The design presently waits to be sent to the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) for approval,” Rajib added.
“Upon receiving the approval, we want to put up 500 units of the ventilator as a donation and can produce more, as needed,” he further said.
The company will share the design free of cost, with those interested in manufacturing it.
Sajjadul Hakim, VP, Software and Services, TigerIT, and Redwan Hasan, mechatronics engineer of the organization have worked relentlessly over the past few weeks to develop this prototype with their team.
“Feeling the great urgency of such emergency medical equipment, we have taken this initiative. We have done this following our work experience with MIT,” Sajjadul Hakim said.
What is a ventilator, how does it work?
Ventilator is an artificial respiratory machine. The act of moving air into and out of the lungs is called breathing, or, more formally, ventilation.
A ventilator helps patients’ artificial breathing who have difficulty breathing or who have lost all ability to breathe on their own.
According to the WHO, around 80% coronavirus patients recover without the support of hospital. But sick patients face extreme difficulties to breaths on their own.
