WATCH: India tops health robotics, Delhi engineer develops world’s smallest, cheapest ventilator

A young Delhi engineer has developed the world’s smallest ventilator.

Diwakar Vaish, 25, in collaboration with the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences has developed the pocket ventilator, which also happens to be the cheapest across the globe.

At cost of up to Rs 20,000, the portable ventilator can be a huge relief for many patients.

The ventilator can run on natural air flow without a dedicated oxygen supply and can be controlled by an Android app.

“There are lot of patients in AIIMS and in hospitals across India who are required to be on ventilator for a prolonged period and are unable to arrange them because of the exorbitant costs and the technical expertise required to operate them,”said Dr Deepak Agrawal, professor in the department of neurosurgery at AIIMS, who is also the brainchild behind this unique initiative.

“We are using the ventilator on some patients as pilot,” Dr Agarwal said. At present, basic ventilators cost above Rs 2.5 lakh in the market.