PGI doctors come up with GPRS-guided wheelchair, stretcher

“We successfully manufactured a wheelchair and a stretcher fitted with a tablet. We found that it was something which can be worked out,” said Dr Meenu Singh from the department of Paediatric Medicine, PGI. “We are now looking for technology partners for this project. Initially we are planning to manufacture around 200 such wheelchairs and stretchers for the Institute.”

She said the patients who visit the institute find it difficult to locate the departments and other areas. “This facility will be made available to patients as soon as they are issued their cards at the counters,” said Dr Meenu. Elaborating further, doctors said the locations would be fed in the tablet by duty guard and the attendants can thereafter follow the instructions being displayed. “The wheelchairs and stretchers would be deposited at the destination location,” said a doctor.

What else is making news?

On Saturday as the innovation model was presented before the visiting guests, it witnessed a good response. The director of the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, who visited the institute, said they too are working on a project which is on similar lines to that of PGI. “We will collaborate with IIT Mandi and will take them along for this project,” said Dr Meenu.

When the testing of the sample wheelchair which was manufactured by PGI and IIIT Delhi was conducted, doctors said the results were positive. “We found positive response from the attendants of the patient who were provided GPRS enabled wheelchairs and stretchers to reach their destination. Time taken was less,” said a doctor, adding that the regional language-based voice service was preferred over English.

For more news on education, click here