Innovative way to reduce exposure
Here is some good news for healthcare professionals on the frontline against Covid-19.
Three young minds -- one in the UK and two in Bangladesh -- have developed a device that helps doctors check patients' blood pressure, oxygen saturation and heart rate simultaneously.
Using the device, physicians and other health professionals will be able to know the three vital readings quickly and more importantly without having to get exposed to patients for a longer period. It will minimise the risks of coronavirus transmission among doctors and the patients they treat.
Sabyasachi Roy, who is now pursuing higher studies in the UK after completing MBBS from Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Muhibbullah Saif, an internfrom the same medical college, and Mahmudur Rahman, a Buet graduate, have jointly developed the device called Provat Vital Parameter Trolley.
The device has already gone through a successful trial run. Yesterday, 16 pieces of the device were handed to the Mitford hospital authorities for formal use.
The development came at a time when an increasing number of doctors treating Covid-19 patients are getting infected and dying as they remain highly exposed to the deadly virus.
At least 40 doctors have so far died of Covid-19, according to Bangladesh Doctors' Foundation (BDF). As many as 1,210 doctors got infected and 669 of them recovered as of yesterday, it said.
Talking to The Daily Star over phone, Sabyasachi said usually in hospitals in Bangladesh, a doctor or an intern has to use a manual machine to check blood pressure. They need to go very close to a patient and the process takes more than two minutes.
But at UK hospitals, doctors use automatic BP machines, which also show patients' heart rate. It requires lesser time.
Besides, doctors in Bangladesh face difficulties to get oximeters at hospitals as the small device, used to measure oxygen saturation, is often kept hidden in fear that it will be stolen, he said.
"These things were popping up in my mind for long … After Bangladesh was hit by the pandemic, many doctors eventually got infected. It is believed exposure to patients for a longer period is one of the reasons for it," he said.
So, Sabyasachi started thinking about using a trolley-supported automatic BP machine in Bangladesh to reduce the exposure time.
In the meantime, Sir Salimullah Medical College Alumni, UK, which has around 100 members, began collecting funds to help Mitford hospital doctors and other health professionals in this regard and asked its members to find a way.
A few days later, Sabyasachi contacted some Bangladesh importers who bring in medical equipment, but they told him they were not interested in importing such an automated BP machine.
Sabyasachi then talked to Muhibbullah, who had already become well-known for his humanitarian works at Mitford hospital, and shared with him the idea of developing the device in Bangladesh.
Muhibbullah was fascinated by the idea and he instantly communicated it to Mahmudur, a computer science and engineering graduate from Buet. Muhibbullah, a former student of Barishal Cadet College, and Mahmudur, an ex-student of Rangpur Cadet College, had met on Facebook.
"Based on discussions and other efforts, we finally managed to develop the device," Sabyasachi said, adding that they have plans to modify it to make it even better.
He said Mahmudur, who led the physical works, was asked to build the trolley strongly so it does not get damaged even if it falls on the ground.
The automated BP machine was installed inside a metal box.
Besides, an oximeter was locked with the trolley with a long chain so that the small device does not get stolen. Patients' heart rates would be seen in both the BP machine and the oximeter, he said.
While using the newly-developed device, doctors will have to fix the cuff of the BP machine on a patient's hand and touch the oximeter only once. The readings will come within seconds and doctors will be able to check the results of BP, oxygen saturation and heart rate standing remotely.
"Actually, the device reduces the exposure time of a doctor by 90 percent," Sabyasachi told this correspondent.
Mahmudur said they have customised the trolley so that it can be used on beds and floors.
The planning took a week. They prepared the device at a workshop in the capital's Banashree area in the next three weeks, he said, adding that each trolley costs Tk 18,000 to Tk 20,000.
Mahmudur said they assembled the device using high quality oximeter and automated BP machine and were hoping that each device would last at least for five years.
Muhibbullah said they conducted a trial run of the device at a unit of Mitford hospital for three days and found the outcome to be satisfactory.
"We [Muhibbullah and Sabyasachi] were discussing about doing something for Mitford hospital and the health sector for many days. Later, we decided to develop the device. After Mahmudur bhai got involved, it took us around a month to complete the project," he said.
"I feel very happy to be a part of the initiative," he told this newspaper.
Sabyasachi said, "Although I am now living abroad, I always feel the urge to do something for my country. I am happy that something like this has been done."
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