Drawing blood for a test is a routine procedure for the doctors and patients. But, the complications like non-detection of vein, multiple pricking and needle stick injuries commonly occur. While children’s find it terrifying to undergo the process, in case of elderly, locating the vein becomes a difficult task.
With an aim to overcome these barriers, a young engineering student from College of Engineering Pune COEP, has developed a machine which automatically draws blood form the human body.
Pankaj Badatia is a second year engineering student, working to make his product of ‘Automatic Blood Drawing Machine’ available in the Indian market. Pankaj already has people who have invested in his idea, he expects to launch the product in two pathology labs in Pune within the next six months and plans to make it available in a mass produced scale by February next year.
Pankaj has won Seneca-COEP Innovative Project Competition, 2017 award on Friday for his innovative model of ‘Automatic Blood Drawing Machine’. The competition which funds start up in health care and wellness industry will now help him to take this idea to the market.
While speaking to My Medical Mantra Pankaj Badatia said, “There are around 20 types of infections, including HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C which could occur due to needle stick inquiry. Technology should give a solution to these occupational diseases.”
He further added, “Before going ahead with this concept I had done an extensive survey and had long discussions with different doctors from Pune. I had also visited different pathology labs in the city and had studied different ways through which blood is being drawn currently.”
The machine will use infrared technology to select the right area of vein. Computer vision software will show veins below the skin on smart phone screen.
Pankaj claims that this will eliminate the threat of nurses getting infected with different diseases while drawing blood from patients. These are known as ‘needle stick inquiries’ which occur when nurse gets in contact with bodily fluid of the patient.
B B Ahuja, Director of COEP, said, “Last year the competition was held in Canada. We are encouraging our students to be entrepreneur in bio medical engineering as there is huge scope in the industry. The student who has won the competition will now get funding and technical help from experts in the industry.”
There are different solutions available in the western market but since they are costly, it is difficult for Indian market to buy them. “I am trying to give it at as cheap rate as possible which will be affordable in Indian market. Currently no such device is available in Indian market and drawing of blood is done manually,” says Pankaj.