Machbee Innovations Private Limited is an Indian tech-based company that uses the latest technologies such as artificial intelligence, embedded systems, Internet of things (IoT) and blockchain to create innovative solutions for easing everyday problems. Founded in 2018, Machbee offers a wide range of hardware and software products for the healthcare, consumer electronics and biomedical industries.
The start-up has come at the forefront in providing aid for battling the COVID crisis in India. Due to the virus, more and more COVID-19 patients need respiratory assistance and intensive care. So Machbee Innovations has begun commercial production of its small and affordable COVID-focused emergency ventilation equipment- the Jeeva Vaayu Series (JV-50) Emergency Ventilators.
Machbee Innovations: ‘Jeeva Vaayu’ Giving Oxygen to the Nation
The Jeeva Vaayu Series (JV-50) ventilator manufactured by Machbee is an emergency respirator specifically designed to deal with COVID-19 cases. The device is based on the automatic Ambu bag (manual or self-inflating bag) model. It is portable, compact and easy to use.
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After focusing on biomedical products during the first wave of the pandemic, the start-up has developed three versions of the Jeeva Vaayu ventilator, each an improved version of the previous one.
The latest version of the Jeeva Vaayu ventilator is more compact and portable and weighs only 6-7 kg, much less than the previous models. Furthermore, the start-up redesigned the ventilators’ mechanical system to facilitate operation with only three control systems: breaths per minute, inhalation/exhalation ratio and tidal volume. In addition, the Ambu automatic bag allows the patient to breathe independently using a gas mask, and the system can be connected to an oxygen cylinder if required.
Machbee Innovations Ventilators are Multi-beneficial
The main USP of the Jeeva Vaayu ventilators is the capped price of Rs. 50,000, which is much lesser than the purchase price of other high-quality ventilators ranging between Rs. 7 lakh and Rs. 14 lakh. Machbee’s product has received positive feedback and has even been donated to volunteer organisations and primary health centres of the Government General Hospital in Ernakulam.
While the ventilator is defined as COVID-specific equipment, a model of it has also been developed that allows clinicians to modify it as paediatric ventilators and for respiratory diseases associated with sleep apnea. The automated Ambu bag makes it compatible with ambulances and even in households with specific purposes.
India’s Current Ventilators Need
COVID-19 has exposed the many gaps in health systems across the world. In India, the COVID 19 pandemic has brought attention to a stark lack of medical infrastructure, especially oxygen plants and ventilators. According to industry figures, before the outbreak in India, there were eight ventilator manufacturers with an annual production capacity of 3,360 ventilators. During the COVID crisis, nine more players joined the league, projecting India’s annual production capacity to 396,260 ventilators.
Ventilator’s requirement has never been more than during the pandemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 5% of COVID-19 patients require ventilators. On 18 May 2021, during the second wave’s peak, India’s active caseload increased to 3.21 million. This would have required about 0.2 million ventilators, going by WHO’s estimate.
On May 1, last year, the Union Ministry of Health and Welfare estimated that India would need 75,000 respirators by June 2020. There is, however, no official data available in the public domain about the additions made since.
