Patiala: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar have developed an electronic massager for the calf muscles that can reduce the risk of fainting among donors during or after donating blood. According to him, an adult donates 450 ml of blood, which is about 10% of his blood volume, which is considered safe and usually has no side effects. However, at times, the donor may experience side reactions such as weakness during or after the donation. Dizziness, cold sweats, fainting and other symptoms.
It has been observed by most donors that their blood pressure may drop or the heart rate suddenly slows down and the donor may feel faint, nauseous, or light-headed or, in some cases, lose consciousness. The researchers said that this work is being done in collaboration with the Department of Transfusion Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh. The clinical trial of this device is being done under the supervision of Dr Suchet Sachdev of PGI.
The massager developed by IIT Ropar has a programmable circuit that can control the vacuum pump so that it can inflate and deflate the cuff synergistically. It can relax the blood donor thereby reducing anxiety before donating blood thus removing the triggers of blood donation and improving peripheral blood circulation thereby improving blood circulation in the heart.
“This is expected to reduce the risk of vasovagal syncope (dizziness, nausea and fainting),” Ashish said. Plate, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering.
“This device is a simple, safe and portable way to reduce the incidence of vasovagal syncope in donors. It is non-invasive and non-pharmacological. It works by simply providing massage to the donor’s calf muscles thereby preventing deposits in the heart.” Blood is pumped back which may improve heart rate and contraction of the heart, during which blood is pumped into the arteries, blood pressure of the donor and also prevent mental deviations that may avoid triggering vasovagal syncope. This device can help reduce the drop-out rate of blood donors due to vasovagal reactions,” explains Sawhney.
Ravindra Kumar, Research Scholar, Biomedical Engineering, IIT Ropar said, “The device should ideally be mounted on a blood donation chair. To operate this device a low pressure set-point is first set by the operator and then the device is turned on. The cuffs move in and out according to the pressure ceiling set by the knob. The set-point is gradually increased until a person can feel a relaxing massaging effect on the calf muscles. If the pressure setpoint is set too high, the patient may feel uncomfortable and in this case the setpoint should be brought down by an appropriate control signal through the knob. After this the process of donating blood starts. Once donation is complete, the device is turned off and the cuff is removed.”
He added, “People find donating blood unpleasant because of dizziness, nausea and fainting. This device can make them feel comfortable while donating and after.”
It has been observed by most donors that their blood pressure may drop or the heart rate suddenly slows down and the donor may feel faint, nauseous, or light-headed or, in some cases, lose consciousness. The researchers said that this work is being done in collaboration with the Department of Transfusion Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh. The clinical trial of this device is being done under the supervision of Dr Suchet Sachdev of PGI.
The massager developed by IIT Ropar has a programmable circuit that can control the vacuum pump so that it can inflate and deflate the cuff synergistically. It can relax the blood donor thereby reducing anxiety before donating blood thus removing the triggers of blood donation and improving peripheral blood circulation thereby improving blood circulation in the heart.
“This is expected to reduce the risk of vasovagal syncope (dizziness, nausea and fainting),” Ashish said. Plate, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering.
“This device is a simple, safe and portable way to reduce the incidence of vasovagal syncope in donors. It is non-invasive and non-pharmacological. It works by simply providing massage to the donor’s calf muscles thereby preventing deposits in the heart.” Blood is pumped back which may improve heart rate and contraction of the heart, during which blood is pumped into the arteries, blood pressure of the donor and also prevent mental deviations that may avoid triggering vasovagal syncope. This device can help reduce the drop-out rate of blood donors due to vasovagal reactions,” explains Sawhney.
Ravindra Kumar, Research Scholar, Biomedical Engineering, IIT Ropar said, “The device should ideally be mounted on a blood donation chair. To operate this device a low pressure set-point is first set by the operator and then the device is turned on. The cuffs move in and out according to the pressure ceiling set by the knob. The set-point is gradually increased until a person can feel a relaxing massaging effect on the calf muscles. If the pressure setpoint is set too high, the patient may feel uncomfortable and in this case the setpoint should be brought down by an appropriate control signal through the knob. After this the process of donating blood starts. Once donation is complete, the device is turned off and the cuff is removed.”
He added, “People find donating blood unpleasant because of dizziness, nausea and fainting. This device can make them feel comfortable while donating and after.”
,