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Indian Institute of Management,
Ahmedabad awarded the gold medal to Kolhapur's Sanjiv Gokhale for his unique
infusion flow rate monitor. Today, after clinical and market tests on the
product concluded recently, Ahmedabad based Troikaa Pharmaceuticals Ltd has
picked up the gauntlet of marketing the product in 30 countries, including
India.
"Clinical studies for the
product conducted at KEM Hospital, Mumbai, concluded four months ago. In the
next three months, clinical trials will be conducted at hospitals around India,
including AIIMS Delhi. An informal nod has been given by the Drug Controller
General of India and once we get written permission, we will launch the product
formally," informs Ketan Patel, managing director of Troikaa Pharmaceuticals.
Market tests and surveys were conducted in seven states of India, including
nursing homes in Gujarat - the latter by students of IIM-A.
Gokhale's innovative 'Inflo'
proposes to introduce a more precise and cost effective method to monitor
intra-venous (I.V.) drug infusion and blood transfusions. In present hospital
practice, the monitoring of the number of drops falling per minute into the drip
chamber of the I.V. set is done manually by hospital nurses, increasing the
scope of human error. Alternatively, disposable dial gauges which are cheaper
than infusion pumps are also used.
Infusion pumps are high
precision devices but cost around Rs 30,000. Even high-end hospitals cannot
afford to have one for each bed. The Inflo meter costs far less than an infusion
pump and is a one-time investment as well," says Somnath Chatterjee, CEO of CIIE.
While Patel does not call it a
substitute to the infusion pump which also controls infusions besides
monitoring, it is "a cost effective device which offers more precision than
manual monitoring". The launch price proposed by Troikaa Pharmaceuticals for the
infusion flow rate monitor is Rs 4,000.
Medically, it is important to
give dosage of infusion or blood in ml/hr or in calculations prescribed by the
doctor or the drug manufacturer. Any change in the infusion monitoring can prove
to be harmful to the patient's health. Moreover, informs Gokhale, "When no flow
is taking place, I.V. fluid or blood may flow back causing discomfort to the
patient. The Inflo can continuously monitor and display the drip flow rate and
also inform the nurse when no flow occurs, by setting off an alarm."
(Ref : Times of India dated
August 31, 2005)
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