P. D. S. Ashan Kumara, a second year Mechatronics student at the Department of Engineering Technology, Faculty of Technology has developed a prototype of an innovative Ventilator during this critical time of the COVID 19 pandemic.
The new Ventilator designed by Ashan works on a pressure controlled respiration mode. This is a promising development for manufacturing ventilators locally. Industrial Development Board has agreed to help the student to further improve his invention.
Currently he is working on the equipment at the IDB under the guidance of the Mechatronics lecturers of the focused area in the Department of Engineering Technology.
Acting Dean, Dr. Nilmini Liyanage, ICT Head of the Department, Dr. Nalaka Lankasena and lecturers of the Department of Engineering Technology. identified the talent and the capability of the student and with the support of the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sudantha Liyanage contacted the relevant authorities who could further support the student to improve his prototype. IDB came forward to help purchase the required pressure sensors and provide the working space to continue the work. At this very moment, with the curfew still going ahead, the student and the team of lectures are tirelessly working around the clock at the IDB to finalize the design. Discussions on the IP rights are in progress as well. The team is hopeful that by next week, they will be able to complete the first product to be given out for trials.
For patients with the worst effects of corona-virus infection, a ventilator offers the best chance of survival. The ventilator takes over the body’s breathing process when disease has caused the lungs to fail. This gives the patient time to fight off the infection and recover.
