IIT-KGP alumni design customised ambulance for patients, gift it to Alma mater

Kolkata: In an initiative to strengthen the health and wellness programme of IIT Kharagpur, the alumni of the Institute have designed a customised ambulance for safeguarding dynamic patient requirements and gifted it to their Alma mater.

 "We have initiated process for two ambulances similar to those used by superspecialty hospitals for long distance transfer of patients under constant monitoring.

The present initiative by the alumni to augment our fleet of ambulances is exemplary, considering the time spent and technical expertise extended to custom design this ambulance, which shows the level of affection of the students" said Prof Sriman Kumar Bhattacharya, Deputy Director, IIT Kharagpur.

The campaign comprises alumni: Ranbir Gupta, Asoke Deysarkar, Vinod Gupta and Arjun Malhotra of the IIT Kharagpur Foundation USA.

They along with Delhi-based alumnus Achin Juneja worked towards understanding the requirements of the patients from the IIT Kharagpur campus who are referred to hospitals in Kolkata.

"The patients need comfort and constant monitoring along with some uninterrupted emergency services during transit.

While designing, we focused on the interiors of the ambulance and the power supply," explained Juneja, an electronics engineer who graduated from IIT Kharagpur in 1972.

He consulted several doctors and super speciality hospitals in India to ensure best-in-class emergency medical fittings and effective vehicle design for long-distance journey.

The medical equipment include transport ventilator, defibrillator, syringe pump, suction pump, fully regulated oxygen supply system for patient, patient monitor for BP, ECG, oxygen saturation in blood, respiratory rate, pulse rate and a foldable stretcher trolley for comfortable transfer of the patient to and fro the ambulance.

The ambulance has dedicated batteries and alternators for uninterrupted power supply and air-conditioning one for the patient cabin irrespective of the engine function. The large wheelbase of approximately 3.5 metre give more room inside the patient cabinet. Custom fittings were fabricated.