IIT, Bhilai rises to the expectation of people

The full face mask not only to protects the mouth and nose, but also covers the eyes and ears.

Staff Reporter :

Raipur,

The researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhilai have conducted significant research in the field of engineering, science and technology. There have been projects investigating nano material and active matter with widely acclaimed publications. During the outbreak of COVID 19, researchers, faculty members, staff and students at IIT, Bhilai have been involved in a variety of activities to handle the global pandemic. A dedicated team from the Chemistry Department, for instance, developed hand sanitisers, which are now in use across the campus.

Besides this, researchers at IIT Bhilai have also developed novel technologies to help medical doctors and health care personnel. Amongst these, the Mechanical Engineering Department of IIT, Bhilai has designed a unique full face mask, which is not only to protect the mouth and the nose, but also covers the eyes and ears. Reusability is the biggest advantage of the mask and it can be prepared for reuse within 30 minutes. Two N95 compatible filters are attached to this mask for sufficient air circulation. There is an additional feature for attaching hazmat clothing to the mask, which will enhance its protection levels while putting on and removing the mask.

The 3D printed prototype prepared at IIT Bhilai has also been distributed to medical research centres like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Raipur and Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital and Research Centre Bhilai. Besides the face mask, a first generation nasal test swab has been developed by IIT Bhilai. The swab is fabricated in-house using biocompatible material.

It has been conceptualised and designed by the Mechanical Engineering Department under the guidance of Professor Rajat Moona, Director IIT Bhilai. Professor Moona also informed that Dr Nikhil Chander, one of IIT’s faculty members, developed a nanoparticle-based anti-viral/anti-microbial coating on clothing. Moreover, the institute has worked on building a PAN IIT alumni network for defining COVID 19 test plans. Machines for doing large scale testing and specifications were drawn as part of this project. These are part of the ongoing PAN IIT strategies to handle COVID related issues. A contactless water dispenser has also been designed as a new initiative from IIT Bhilai, made by the Electrical Engineering Lab. It is an IR sensor based device, designed for indoor applications like a water dispenser for washing hands or drinking water kiosk.