12th January 2022
Topic: Innovation by IIT Ropar
Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains
What is the news?
- The researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar have developed an electronic massager for calf muscles which may reduce the risk of fainting in blood donors during or after donating blood.
Findings shared by them:
- According to them, an adult gives 450ml of blood, that is about 10% of his/her blood volume, which is considered safe and does not generally cause any bad effects. However, rarely does the donor experience side reactions during or after the donation, such as weakness, dizziness, cold sweat, fainting and other symptoms.
- It has been seen by maximum donors that their blood pressure can drop or heart rate slows down suddenly and the donor might feel faint, nauseous, or light-headed or, in some cases, lose consciousness.
- The researchers indicated that this work was being done in collaboration with the Department of Transfusion Medicine at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh. Clinical trials of this device are performed under the supervision of Dr Suchet Sachdev of the PGI.
How does this work?
- The device is simple, safe and portable for reducing incidences of vasovagal syncope in blood donors. It is non-invasive and nonpharmacological.
- It works just by providing a massage to the calf muscles of the donor thereby pumping back the pooled blood to the heart that can improves the heart rate and the contraction of the heart, during which blood is pumped into the arteries blood pressure of the donor and also prevents the mental diversion that may avoid triggering of a vasovagal syncope.
- This device can help reduce the rate of abandonment of blood donors through vasovagal reactions.
(Source: timesofindia)
