Indian Engineer Wins Innovation Award For Breathing Device That Saves Premature Babies

June 28, 2019

An engineer from Bangalore, India is winning international accolades for his low-cost neonatal breathing device which can save the lives of newborn premature babies.

Nitesh Kumar Jangir created Saans, a breathing support device for premature babies, designed to prevent avoidable neonatal deaths typically caused by respiratory distress syndrome.

Jangir’s invention, which solves the lack of immediate access to complex medical equipment in rural areas, won the 2019 Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Innovation for Sustainable Development Award in London.

The device is reportedly at least three times cheaper than any machine of similar function.

It can also be powered in a variety of ways, such as a vehicle’s electrical supply, a rechargeable battery, compressed gas or manual air pumping.

“In countries like India, with erratic electricity supply and limited resources at public hospitals, this neonatal breathing support equipment can be used without any complex training,” Jangir was quoted as saying. “So, anyone, anywhere can use this device and deliver crucial support to premature babies.”

“This award will go a long way in upscaling this device across the Commonwealth countries, for use in similar conditions in regions like Africa.”

People🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️ category: The #CommonwealthInnovation Award to achieve the #SDGs winner is @Niteshtech from #India
He co-founded @CoeoLabs, a #medical device company with a vision to prevent preventable deaths in the field of emergency and critical care#CommonwealthAt70 pic.twitter.com/4ztyXFRtuN — The Commonwealth (@commonwealthsec) June 14, 2019

The electronics engineer, who co-founded medical device firm Coeo Labs, received his award in the People category alongside 14 other inventors from across the 53 member-countries of the Commonwealth, India Today reports.

Winners of the inaugural Commonwealth Innovation Awards each received a trophy, a certificate and £2,000 ($2,540) in prize money.

Saans has reportedly been in development for four years and, for the past three months, is being used in Indian hospitals and medical colleges without neonatal ICU facilities.

Featured Image via YouTube / InkTalks

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