Atmanirbhar Bharat: ITI Berhampur files patents for three innovations

The Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Berhampur, Orissa, has registered three of its innovative products developed to fight against coronavirus in the patent journal, attesting its inherent strength to be able to rise to any challenge and contribute towards fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.

In an ongoing effort to use its technical expertise to help curtail the spread of Covid-19, ITI Berhampur, following in the footsteps of IITs and NITs, is seeking a patent for its three innovations which will give priority right to the institute over invention.

The three innovations by the institute include:

<strong>Mobile Swab Collection Kiosk</strong>

In a recent report of WHO it was revealed that the Covid 19 virus aerosol can also transmit through air. The aerosols can remain in air for a longer period. So during swab collection, either at the mobile kiosk or at hospitals, the suspected patient stays outside. The health technician stays inside the kiosk. This creates a possibility of contaminated aerosols in that area where the sample is collected. There is a possibility of spreading Covid virus from that location. ITI Berhampur has provided a solution to put the suspected patient inside the cabin and technician outside the kiosk. By a negative pressure technology using HEPA filters the aerosols are filtered, making the environment free from Covid virus in that area.

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<strong>UVC sole sanitizer</strong>

A sole sanitizing device includes a portable platform and a pair of shoe sole receiving sections including open bottom surface. Each of the shoe sole receiving sections is adapted to receive the exterior part of the shoe. This platform also includes a plurality of disposable transparent mats along which can be removed and placed on the platform. A plurality of UVC light source is aligned as per length of shoe receiving station. Mechanism is provided through IR sensors when both the soles are on the platform then only the UVC light gets triggered at the same time. The UVC light emits the ray upwards and eradicates the microorganisms deposited on the exterior surface. The digital counter machine is set to eight seconds and after that, both the UVC lights are automatically turned off. As the Covid-19 infection is increasing in the society, preventing our soles from any chance of Covid virus, as well as other infections, is highly essential. It can be used at the entrance of public places like hospitals, offices, airports, railway stations, shopping malls, hotels and institutes to disinfect the shoe sole. A portable small single sole machine is also designed to be used at home.

<strong>UVC Robo Warrior</strong>

The UVC Robo Warrior machine provides UVC light disinfection apparatus that disinfects the surfaces of public transport systems and the isolation rooms occupied by Covid-19 infected or suspected patients. This apparatus moves to the point of disinfection surfaces for direct exposure of UVC light. UVC light emits UV rays with a wavelength of 254 mm which is most easily absorbed by proteins and nucleic acid of bacteria and virus. It can denature and disassociate proteins from thymine dimers in nucleic acid and destroy the nucleic acid and destroy the DNA, RNA, structure of various bacteria. A robot is used to carry the UVC light to the point of disinfection. The movement of the robot is controlled by an android mobile phone with Bluetooth by the operator who controls the movement of the robot from a long distance outside the room. The robot can emit UVC ray to all the inaccessible points in the field of disinfection. The Bluetooth camera fitted in the eyes of the robot sends the video of the area of disinfection to the mobile screen for better control movement of robot. The sensor fitted on the body of the robot prevents any collision of robot with the wall or any object coming on its track by stopping the movement. This robot is made out of plywood and is portable, light-weight and low cost with a chargeable battery.

"Be it designing a UVC Robo warrior that disinfects surfaces or providing solution through mobile swab collection kiosk, Industrial Training Institutes have been at the forefront of our fight against Covid-19. I am confident that such innovations will encourage self-reliance and research spin-offs catering to the needs of the society at large and will encourage more ITIs to come forward with innovative solutions to contain the spread of the virus," said Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, while lauding the efforts of the ITI..