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New technique to help premature babies

By P. Sunderarajan

CHANDIGARH JAN. 6. Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, have developed a new technique that promises to radically improve the survival chances for premature babies, now prone to death because of respiratory difficulties.

Speaking to the , Jayesh R. Bellare, Head of the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering at the institute, said the technique was that it was inexpensive compared to the conventional methods and thus could help a large number of premature babies.

Premature babies are particularly prone to respiratory distress as they do not have enough of a substance called surfactant in their lungs, needed to make them expand and deflate in a continuous manner and thus facilitate breathing.

Doctors now try to overcome the problem by either keeping premature babies in ventilators or by giving them two doses of highly expensive drugs. Each dose costs Rs. 25,000.

Dr. Bellare said the new technique was based on substances of biological origin. Laboratory tests have shown encouraging results and efforts were under way to conduct the follow-up trials with animal models. Discussions were on with the Sri Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram for collaboration in this.

The technique could also be adapted to provide better assistance to adults suffering from asthma and other bronchial disorders.

The IIT scientists, he said, have also developed an artificial hand for accident victims. It had been designed in such a way that it could be operated by the movement of the chin.

The main advantage was that it was rugged and also inexpensive. It costs about Rs.10,000 a piece. It has been developed in collaboration with the Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

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