9 Indian Innovations tackling COVID-19

COVID-19 may have made the world inactive, but it certainly made the innovators put on their thinking caps. We take a look at some of the best innovations from India which are tailor-made to combat the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

India has always been a land of inventors. Right from the concept of surgery to the entire field of ayurveda; these pioneers and innovators have been highly active in the healthcare space through the years. A trend which continues even today.
The current COVID-19  pandemic has seen a new wave of thought-leaders and inventors rise up, and rest assured, their ingenuity is something that deserves a closer look. Early adoption of these devices can go a long way to returning society to the new normal. Let’s take a look at some of the best innovations currently being developed in the country.

1. ‘Zero-Cov', National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal

Surface contamination is the easiest way for the viruses to go around, and not all objects/items can be disinfected. Or so was the truth before the coronavirus paved the pathway for Prof. Arun M Isloor, HoD (Chemistry), National Institute of Technology, Karnataka, to create ‘Zero-Cov’. A special sterilizing chamber for residences and offices made out of a reconfigured fridge, this device can ensure destruction or inactivation of bacteria and viruses by 99.9% owing to its UV-C radiation technology. Prof. Isloor added, “We are currently developing a smaller, more portable box which we are going to give away to the barber at NITK. I believe having this device in barber shops and spas will go a long way in ensuring safety standards are met.”   

2. Dual Chamber - Sanitize then Shock, IIT Kanpur

Although this sounds scary, the device is anything but. Chemical-free and a machine that requires no manual supervision, this device is designed to eliminate viruses hidden in your clothes, including the coronavirus. Created by Professor Manindra Aggarwal of IIT Kanpur, the entire setup has two chambers, the first - an atomization chamber, the second - a thermal shock chamber. With an approximate construction cost of ₹50,000 and time of 48 hours, this device might just become a staple at hospitals, malls and public spaces.

3. Social Distancing Robots, Asimov Robotics

Two “sister” robots developed by Kerala-based startup Asimov Robotics are stationed in public spaces where they can be approached by people. One of the robots distributes masks, napkins and sanitizers while the other shows the WHO’s campaign against the spread of COVID-19. These robots also perform other tasks including cleaning the doors and answering queries about the coronavirus. 

4. Germ Shield, Droom

Cars and automobiles are a great vector for transmission of germs and viruses. As a result, someone had to do something and Droom Health seems to be innovating in this space. The recently introduced Germ Shield uses a special long lasting anti-microbial coating, which inhibits the growth of microorganisms. Similar services might become a norm in transport of essentials or even shared transport.

5. Remote Patient Monitoring, Stasis Health

In an attempt to reduce the high risk of frontline healthcare workers and prevent hospital-based infections, Stasis Health has created a remote patient monitoring system. The system monitors key vital parameters and what’s more, this solution is easily replicated within home, hotels or other intensive care centres. “Our solution is driving the adoption of connected care. The paradigm shift in patient monitoring is essential in order to reduce exposure with minimal disruption to workflow in order to ensure better adoption and patient outcomes.” says Roheet Rao, Director, Stasis Health. 

Source - Stasis Health Pvt Ltd

6. Aarogya Setu, Govt. of India

Yes, there may be a few ongoing concerns around the government contact tracing app, but this does remain to be one of the only contact tracing systems India currently has in place. From being touted as “A must download app for national security” to “techies doing techie things because they don’t know what else to do,” this controversial app has the framework in place and can be a cornerstone in the country’s fight against coronaviruses provided the necessary steps can be taken.

7. Miaza Mirror, Kanav Kahol

A smart mirror that detects a person as they wave at it, this device has been developed by social innovation engineer Kanav Kahol. In an experimental unpublished study, it was found  that 98% people complied with WHO handwashing protocol upon seeing the instructional video in the mirror. The device can also have multiple touch points in healthcare and finds a natural fit as an early detection safewall in terms of self-examined diseases and problems.

8. Remote Controlled Healthcare Trolley, Indian Army

If it's the frontline, then the Indian Army is already there. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian Army, specifically the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), designed this health care trolley to facilitate minimal interaction while delivering supplies and essentials to front line healthcare staff and others. The trolley comes equipped with a wash basin and dustbin while also providing storage space for supplies in hospitals and isolation wards. 

Source: Twitter/Indian Army

9. Face Shield, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal

Another product developed within the walls of a college campus, the Face Shield is an upgrade over the face masks. This multi-use bio-safe 3D printed face shield is easily sterilized allowing longer product life. This is especially important as PPEs have a relatively short lifespan. And masks, well they’ve plenty of shortcomings, the most important of which are the constant shifting and refixing, and their inability at being reused. Dr. Ilsoor says, “When we gave this to our campus security, they immediately felt the ease and convenience of using it for longer periods as the masks are not really comfortable for long. These masks can also be easily cleaned with a soap solution or sanitizer which is something most people have on them these days.”

Innovators will always innovate, and in a country where values are rooted in society and helping the needy, these inventions will go a long way in ensuring everyone’s safety. In addition to this, joint collaborations between state and private parties such as the ‘Breath of Hope’ collaborative initiative led by the Kerala state government can accelerate our collective efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.