Hemometer

1. IIT-Delhi boy Ambar Srivastava developed a mobile phone-size

haemoglobin metre, a device that helps in accurate hemoglobin
estimation. TrueHb Hemometer is a chargeable device that
carries up to 300 tests per charge and stores up to 1000
readings.

Invented by: Ambar Srivastava, student of IIT-Delhi

Purpose: To test people for anaemia.
Awesomeness quotient: Almost the same size as a regular mobile
phone. And as far as its efficacy is concerned, it is approved by All India
Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

2. Infant Warmer

Inventors Jane Chen and Rajan Patel, and their innovative infant warmer

Every year 20 million babies are born premature. They struggle to survive because they
can't regulate their body temperature and they don't have enough fat on their tiny bodies
to keep warm.
Approximately 14% of babies born are considered low birth weight, but these babies
account for 60-80% of neonatal deaths.
The solution is to keep premature babies warm but an incubator costs $20,000 and
requires electricity which is difficult to find in developing countries, particularly in rural
areas.
Parents resort to drastic solutions to keep their babies warm. They attach hot water
bottles to them or place them under light bulbs, which is not only ineffective but unsafe.

As a result, 4 million premature babies die each year. Two-thirds of deaths occur in ten
countries and 40% of those occur in India.
Those that survive endure severe long term health problems (diabetes, heart disease,
mental dysfunction) because they're battling hypothermia instead of growing.
To solve this problem Jane and Rajan, graduates of Stanford University, created an
ingeniously simple, portable, reusable infant incubator that requires no electricity and
costs less than thirty dollars.
It is safe and intuitive to use. It has no moving parts and can be easily sterilized. It looks
like a tiny sleeping bag but it's design is very clever.
It has a pouch that contains a "phase-change wax material" that radiates heat
throughout the insulation at a temperature of 37 degrees Celius (98 F) - the temperature
critical for the child's survival.
The pouch is removed from the insulated blanket and activated by placing it in hot water
for 15 minutes. It's then placed into the blanket.
The phase-change material maintains a constant temperature for 4 hours by absorbing
heat if the baby gets too hot, and giving heat if the baby gets too cold.

3.

SmartCane A boon for the blind!

Image source

Invented by: Rohan Paul, a Rhodes-Oxford & IIT-Delhi scholar

Purpose: While blind people have a knack for identifying obstacles in
their ways, there are certain obstacles like overhanging branches,
parked vehicles, etc., that their traditional canes cant really help in
detecting easily. And here comes in play the SmartCane.
Awesomeness quotient: Clears out major demerits associated with the
traditional cane, as this one helps the user detect any obstacles above
knee-level upto a distance of 3 metres. The traditional cane, on the other
hand, has to be tapped from side to side, and so it can help detect
obstacles only on ground and that too within a range of just about half to
one metre.

Inventions
Commercialised/Licensed out to Indian Medtech companies:
1. Ear, nose & throat Multiscope Recorder (ENTraview):

A low cost, tri-purpose hand held device that allows portable ear nose throat endoscopy and
recording

Need Addressed: Patients from low resource settings are examined using ancient

methods with mirrors and head-lamps causing high error rates Problem: More than 20% of the
population suffers from ENT diseases and approx. 90% are treated without endoscopic
visualisation Inventor: Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi Patent: Indian Patent Ear Nose Throat Multi-scope
Recorder Application Number 1293/CHE/2010 A Licensee: Licensed out to Icarus Nova Discovery
Private Limited (website) in October 2013 Status: Commercialized

2. Thoracocentesis device (Thorashield):

A safer disposable kit for evacuation of pleural fluid (fluid collection)

Need Addressed: Currently, clinicians use IV needles and collection bottles to evacuate
pleural fluid in an unstandardised manner Problem: Use of non standardised sharp needles for
evacuation of pleural fluid without adequate stabilization can lead to injury to the lungs and cause
pneumothorax Inventors: Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi, Dr. Vaisakh NJ, Nitesh Jangir, Ankita Kashyap,
Saaransh Jain, Dr. Karan Madan, Dr. Randeep Gulleria Patent: Indian Patent Aspiration device
Application Number 2639/DEL/2013 Licensee: Licensed out to Mecmaan Healthcare Private
Limited (website) in December 2013 Status: Commercialized

3. Nasal foreign body extractor (Noxeno):

Low skill nasal foreign body extractor for non ENT practitioners
Need Addressed: There is no standardised tool available today for nasal foreign body
removal and skill requirement for removal is very high Problem: Approx. 38 million children have
impacted nasal foreign bodies every year. More than 80% of these children undergo failed attempts
of removal by general practitioners and pediatricians due to the lack of a simple and easy to use
tool. The removal then needs to be performed under general anesthesia Inventors: Dr. Jagdish
Chaturvedi, Dr. Jonathan Pillai, Siddhartha Joshi, Siraj Bagwan, Dr. Suresh C Sharma, Dr. Kapil
Sikka Patent: Indian Patent Removing foreign objects from the nasal cavity Application Number3838/DEL/2012 Licensee: Licensed out to InnAccel Consulting Services Private Limited (website) in
December 2013 Status: Pre-Clinical trials

4. Abdominal paracentesis device (Parasafe):

A safer disposable kit for evacuation of abdominal ascites (fluid collection)

Need Addressed: Currently, clinicians use IV needles and collection bottles to evacuate
ascitic fluid in an unstandardised manner Problem: Use of non standardised sharp needles for
evacuation of ascitic fluid can lead to injury to the bowel and other abdominal contents Inventors: Dr.
Jagdish Chaturvedi, Dr. Jonathan Pillai, Siddhartha Joshi, Siraj Bagwan, Dr. Govind Makharia, Dr.
Pramod Garg, Dr. Haneesh Patent: Indian Patent Abdominal paracentesis device Application
Number- 3839/DEL/2012 Licensee: Licensed out to Mecmaan Healthcare Private Limited (website)
in December 2013 Status: Pre-Commercialization

5. Nasogastric insertion guide (Accufeed):

Low cost guiding device for accurate nasogastric tube insertion

Need Addressed: Multiple attempts are often required while introducing a nasogastric tube
in patients who have lost sensation in their throat Problem: Incorrect nasogastric tube insertion into
the lungs can lead to fatal aspiration pneumonitis Inventors: Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi, Agyeya
Dwivedi, Medha Tyagi, Himanshu Gupta, Neha Shetty, Dr. Govind Makharia, Dr. Pramod
Garg Patent: Assistive

device

for

enteral

tubes

Application

Number

2652/DEL/2013 Licensee: Licensed out to Mecmaan Healthcare Private Limited (website) in

December 2013 Status: Pre-Commercialization

Formed start up companies in India:

6. Liver biopsy device (Bioscoop):

Low cost, safer liver biopsy tool that reduces the risk of internal bleeding
Need Addressed: Currently, clinicians avoid liver biopsies due to fear of internal bleeding
and hence often treat empirically Problem: Burden of diseases such as chronic Hepatitis increases
due to faulty management resulting from lack of biopsies Inventors: Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi, Dr.
Jonathan Pillai, Siddhartha Joshi, Siraj Bagwan, Dr. Govind Makharia, Dr. Pramod Garg, Dr.
Haneesh Patent: Indian Patent Device and method for liver biopsy Application Number3881/DEL/2012 Company

formed: Indiolabs

September 2013 Status: Pre-Clinical Trials

Private

Limited

(website)

in

7. Hand sanitization device (Hanitizer):

Wall mounted, no
touch operated hand sanitizer dispensing device
Addressed: There

is

poor

compliance

to

Need
maintaining

hand

hygiene

by

healthcare

professionals Problem: Poor hand hygiene contributes to hospital acquired infections Inventors: Dr.
Jagdish Chaturvedi, Aanan Khurma, Saurabh Bagh, Agyeya Dwivedi Patent: Indian Patent Hand
sanitizer dispensing device 3673/DEL/2013 Company formed: Observe Design Private Limited
(website) in March 2014 Status: Pre-Clinical Trials

8. Epistaxis controlling device (Nasoplast):

Disposable nose pincher with adsorbent to stop nasal bleeds

Need Addressed: Bleeding from the nose is a common problem for which there is poor
awareness on how to provide correct first aid Problem: Delayed control of nasal bleeding
precipitates risk for infection Product developed for: Icarus Nova Discovery Private Limited (website)
Status: Pre-Clinical Trials

9. VAP management device (VAPcare):

A device to reduce ventilator associated pneumonitis in patients with prolonged intubation

Need Addressed: It is difficult to clear out secretions from around the endotracheal tube
effectively Problem: Pooling of secretions precipitates infection and increases the chances for
development of ventilator associated pneumonitis Inventors: Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi, Nitesh Jangir,
Nachiket Deval, Dr. Vimal Kishore, Dr. Raghuvendra, Dr. Sajid Mohammed, Ramakrishna
Pappu Patent: Indian Patent Device and Method for Removal of secretions to prevent Ventilator
Associated Pneumonia 3988/CHE/2014 Company formed: Coeo Labs Private Limited in August
2014 Status: Early prototype

10. ICP management device (ICPcure):

A device to temporarily manage rising intra cranial tension in head injury patients
Need Addressed: Patients with head injury have rising intracranial pressure and need
immediate neurosurgical intervention. This is not always available due to the large number of head
injury cases with limited neurosurgical care Problem: Rising intracranial pressure causes herniation
of the brainstem and results in respiratory depression and death Inventors: Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi,
Nitesh Jangir, Nachiket Deval, Dr. Vimal Kishore, Dr. Raghuvendra, Dr. Sajid Mohammed,
Ramakrishna Pappu Patent: Indian Patent Device and method for raised intracranial pressure (Coinventor)-

3991/CHE/2014 Company

formed: Coeo

2014 Status: Early prototype

Developed actively at present

11. Paranasal sinus dilatation system (Sinucare):

Labs

Private

Limited

in

August

A low cost sinus dilatation system using tools available in the ENT office
Need Addressed: 1 in 8 Indians suffer from chronic sinusitis who respond poorly to oral
medications. Most patients are compelled to take a more invasive FESS surgery rather than a less
invasive balloon dilatation because the latter is very expensive Problem: Delay in definitive care for
chronic sinusitis can lead to spread of infection into the eyes and brain Inventors: Dr. Jagdish
Chaturvedi, Dr. Sunil Narayan Dutt, Pooja Kadambi, Andrew logan Patent: Indian Patent Device
and method for dilating paranasal sinus opening- 316/CHE/2014 Status: Clinical studies

12. Mechanical CPAP device (Saans):

A low cost mechanical CPAP device for asphyxiated babies during transport
Need Addressed: 30% of newborn babies with Respiratory Distress Syndrome die every year

while being transported to a higher centre due to the lack of a low cost easy to use CPAP
device Problem: If adequate pressure is not maintained within the lungs it leads to alveolar
collapse Inventors: Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi, Nitesh Jangir, Dr. Chetan AC, Dr. Data Santorino, Dr.
Kris Olsen, Khallid Mohammed, Srivatsa K, Mhd. Yousuf Patent: Indian Patent Device and method
for providing mechanical positive airway pressure 3558/CHE/2014 Status: Pre-clinical studies

13. An Objective Behavioural Audiometry Device (Aawaazz):

An objective way to perform Behavioural Audiometry

Need Addressed: Only 20% of 25 Million Newborns in India are screened for hearing loss in
India Problem: The detection of hearing loss is after the age of 5, 90% of the times, leading to

permanent speech development delay Inventors: Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi, Abhishek Appaji M, A.
Saravanan, Dilip S , Rishya. P. Murthy, Tejaswini v, Diksha Kushwaha, Vatsalya Ahuja, Randhir
Singh, Ashfaq Ashraf, Viveka Santhosh Reddy C, Adithya Pasupuleti Status: Pre-clinical studies

14. Adaptive noise cancellation for Tinnitus (ShanTi):

An effective way to reduce tinnitus

Need Addressed: A huge population in India suffer from a disabling condition which produces
continuous ringing sensation in the ears called Tinnitus Problem: Ineffective and expensive
management options available today for Tinnitus Inventors: Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi, Shreya,
Shreyas, Madhuri Status: Early prototype

Other inventions in the pipeline:

15. Medicine management box (Saakar Kit):

A space management device that helps manage medications when delivered to patients at sub
centres

Need Addressed: Medicines are delivered from Primary Healthcare Centres

(PHC) to sub centres once every week and medications need to be carried Problem: Many patients
do

not

receive

the

medications

they

need

because

of

mismanaged

storage

and

distribution Inventors: Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi, Dr. Jonathan Pillai, Siddhartha Joshi, Siraj Bagwan,
Dr. Sanjay Rai Patent: Indian Patent Carrying case for storage and delivery of medicines and
vaccines 2631/DEL/2013 Status: Early prototype

16. Esophageal varices management device (Variseal):

An easy to administer upper GI bleeding management device

Need Addressed: It is very difficult to apply tamponade and control upper Gi bleeding.
Existing devices require significant training. Problem: Failure to stop profuse upper GI bleeding can

lead to hypovolemic shock and death Inventors: Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi, Dr. Jonathan Pillai,
Siddhartha Joshi, Siraj Bagwan, Dr. Govind Makharia, Dr. Pramod Garg, Dr. Haneesh Patent: Indian
Patent

Radial

inward

compression

of

esophagus

Application

Number-

3853/DEL/2012 Status: Early prototype

17. Hip OA injection assisting device (Accuhip):

Accurate
guidance for injections into the hip joint

Need

Addressed: Younger patients with osteoarthritis of the hip who are not covered under insurance for
hip replacement need injections for lubrication of their joints Problem: Inaccurate injections can
cause nerve and vascular injury resulting in permanent damage Inventors: Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi,
Ankur Giggas, Michael H, Mike H, Katharina Schmidt, Kristine Boucher Patent: US Patent Method
and system of treating osteoarthritis hip Application Number: 61609362 Status: Early prototype

18. Bowel cleansing device (Magnabelt):

Magnetic
belt to clean bowel prior to colonoscopy
Need Addressed: Patients require adequate cleansing of their bowels prior to colonoscopy in order
to increase the accuracy of diagnosis Problem: Poor bowel preparation can lead to missing out
of important lesions Inventors: Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi, Dr. Jonathan Pillai, Siddhartha Joshi, Siraj
Bagwan, Patent: US Patent Methods and devices for cleaning the bowel of fecal matter prior to

imaging and Therapeutic Intervention, to aid visualization and therapy App#: 61658169 Status: Early
prototype