• The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation has established three separate types of ventilators and an oxygen concentrator at a time when a shortage of this vital medical equipment caused many Covid-19 patients across the country to die.
• Prana, VaU, and Svasta are the names were given by them based on their designs, features, and specifications.

1. Prana is a device that uses automatic compression of an Ambu bag to deliver respiratory gas to a patient.
2. Svasta is designed to operate without electricity.
3. VaU is a low-cost ventilator that is similar to commercially available high-end ventilators. 

• All three are user-friendly, completely automated, and equipped with touch-screen capabilities, as well as meeting all safety requirements.

Shwaas :

• Shwaas, a portable medical oxygen concentrator, was also developed by the VSSC. It can provide 10 litres of enriched oxygen per minute, which is enough for two patients at once.
• Shwaas increases the oxygen gas content by selectively removing nitrogen gas from ambient air using a process known as Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA), which is widely used to produce oxygen from air.

By: Rohit Middha