NASHIK :
The Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (M&M), had recently announced plans to manufacture ventilators. The engine plant of company at Igatpuri has indigenously developed a prototype of bag valve mask, which is commonly known as an Ambu bag. The ventilator will cost less than ₹7,500 after manufacturing the company said.
The artificial manual-breathing unit, or Ambu bag, is a self-inflating device that is typically used to help patients with breathing problems. The engineering teams based at the automaker’s Kandivali (Mumbai) and Igatpuri (Nashik) manufacturing plants developed the prototype within 48 hours. The officials from the company have shared a video about the development of the prototype.
Mahindra called the Ambu bag developed in-house a game changer and said in a tweet that it could cost less than ₹7,500 and thus help a large number of people. “We are simultaneously working with an indigenous maker of ICU ventilators. These are sophisticated machines costing ₹5-10 lakh. This device is an interim lifesaver and the team estimates that it will cost below ₹7,500,” Mahindra said in a tweet.
“We will seek guidance from specialists on the usefulness of the device,” he said.
On 22 March, Mahindra offered the government and concerned medical authorities help in scaling up production of ventilators, essential for critical patients infected with the coronavirus. The company hopes to have the prototype ready within three days for approval.
