Dr Satish Deopujari & his team at Satej Medinnova have developed seven models so medical science teachers can explain cardio-respiratory and arterial blood gas (ABG) functions in a simple way to undergraduate and postgraduate medical students. ABG is the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in blood, which is measured to see how lungs are working.
The simulation models mimic the functions of a pumping heart and breathing lungs, beside other concepts of physiology of the vital organs. The models were unveiled at a modest ceremony at Deopujari’s Clinic in Dhantoli on Monday.
Dr Deopujari announced that the models would be donated free of cost to five AIIMSs, including Nagpur’s, and 10 GMCs of the state.
The simulators show the physiology of a working ventilator, oxygen movement from lungs to blood, oxygen transport in blood, level of oxygen necessary for body and how it is used, how the heart works with lungs to supply oxygen and functions of the heart.
Dr Deopujari said, “These are 100% made in Nagpur costing at most Rs 1 lakh. The gadgets simplify the complexities of machines used in intensive and critical care areas. Before students see the actual ABG and ventilators, it is necessary they have a fair understanding of their functions.”
While the ventilator simulators are mainly for teaching, those for ABG can be put to use in actual hospital settings too.
Dr Deopujari, who is also adjunct professor of mechanical engineering at VNIT, said these models are based on the concept of ‘Know, operate and build’. “First comes knowledge about them, followed by learning to operate, and then they can build on them or improvise,” he said.
Talking about the purpose behind the innovation, Dr Deopujari said during Covid a lot of fresh doctors had to be drafted into service. “If an intern knows it before hand, it helps in emergencies like Covid,” he said.
Well known cardiologists, pulmonologists and laparoscopic specialists, who were invited to see the models, said these were one of their kind and the gadgets would help students understand the body functions better.
Dr Aziz Khan said they will improve understanding of the concepts of physiology better. “With this simulation, even a nurse can calculate ABG,” he said.
Laparoscopic surgeon Dr Subodh Gupta said when you can visualize basic concepts, they are clearer. “One tends to be a better clinician,” he said.
Pulmonologist Dr Ravindra Sarnaik said so far teachers had to rely on internet to get images, but these models will solve that problem.
Press – Times of India
