The Department of Biomedical Engineering has been working for 10 months for the development of a low-cost CPAP ventilator device to for hypoxemic COVID-19 patients. This device can be used only by connecting with an Oxygen Cylinder or Medical Oxygen line without any electricity. The device is easy to use and can be deployed in rural areas as well as mobile transportation vehicles.
When oxygen saturation level in a COVID patient decreases drastically, low-flow oxygen therapy is applied first. However, if this therapy fails, high-flow oxygen is required which can prevent further deterioration of condition. Generally, High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) equipment is used which is expensive. Moreover, during the peak of COVID-19, many hospitals face a shortage of HFNC devices. HFNC devices also require some expertise to operate. The easily usable OxyJet CPAP device can help reduce this gap.
OxyJet CPAP aims to provide oxygen treatment to patients of general ward and prevent ICU admission. OxyJet CPAP mixes atmospheric air and oxygen based on precision venturi jet mixing principle and generates a flow-rate of over 60 Litre/min. With the help of medical oxygen supply and dual flow-meter the device can provide upto 100% fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2). OxyJet CPAP has been tested following the UK- MHRA Rapidly Manufactured CPAP system guideline in Biomedical Engineering Department of BUET.
With the approval of Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC), it has already successfully passed the first and second stages of the clinical trial and got the permission for the third stage. “In the second phase, 5 patients with oxygen deficiency (hypoxic) were treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Oxyjet CPAP increased the blood oxygen level (oxygen saturation) of patients by an average of 11.2% within 1 hour of treatment.” says Dr. Taufiq Hasan, the principal investigator of the project.
The third phase of the clinical trial has been approved by BMRC authority and has now begun at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The Principal Investigator of this trial is Dr. Taufiq Hasan, (Assistant Professor, BME, BUET), and the Co-Investigators are Dr. Md. Titu Miah (Professor & Principal, DMC), Dr. Robed Amin (Former Professor, DMC; Director, Non-Communicable Diseases Control) and other physicians at DMC. In this phase of the clinical trial, total 40 patients will be enrolled and treated with OxyJet CPAP and HFNC devices through randomization.
“We highly encourage this innovative and impactful research work at BUET. The newly formed Research and Innovation Centre for Science and Engineering (RISE) at BUET will be responsible for filing patents and technology transfer of such innovations in the future.” says Prof. Dr. Satya Prasad Majumder, Vice Chancellor, BUET.
The OxyJet CPAP project is being funded by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Academy Establishment (iDEA) by the ICT Division of the Government of Bangladesh. The project also received unconditional donations from Ankur International Foundation, and Manush Manusher Jonno Foundation. OxyJet Team consists of Meemnur Rashid, Kaisar Ahmed Alman, Farhan Muhib, Md. Kawsar Ahmed and Saeedur Rahman. The project is supervised by Dr. Taufiq Hasan (Assistant Professor, BME, BUET).
