IIT Madras Launches India's 1st Mobile Medical Device Calibration Facility on Wheels

The mobile calibration facility addresses the crucial need for maintenance and quality assurance of life-saving medical devices.

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has introduced India's first 'medical device calibration facility on wheels’.

This innovative initiative is part of IIT Madras' 'Anaivarukkum IITM' (IITM for all) Initiatives which aim to revolutionize healthcare accessibility and quality across the nation.

The facility was officially launched on April 15, 2024, at the IIT Madras campus by Prof V Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras. The inauguration ceremony was attended by esteemed faculty members, including Prof R Sarathi and Prof M Anbarasu, along with the college students.

Accurate Calibration for Enhanced Healthcare Delivery

Emphasizing the critical role of proper diagnosis and treatment in healthcare, Prof Kamakoti, noted, "With escalating cost for calibration this effort not only reduces the cost of calibration but also the transportation cost and time required. This is a progressive step towards affordable, scalable, quality health care for all."

The mobile calibration facility addresses the crucial need for maintenance and quality assurance of life-saving medical devices. Calibration is vital to ensure the accuracy of medical instruments, enabling precise disease diagnosis and effective treatment.

This initiative aims to improve healthcare delivery across diverse geographical locations in India by offering an affordable and quality calibration facility.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3

Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, which advocates for health and well-being for all, this initiative underscores IIT Madras' commitment to advancing healthcare accessibility and quality nationwide.

Per the Institute, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, the mobile unit ensures the safety and functionality testing of medical devices in accordance with international standards.

This infrastructure enables comprehensive testing and maintenance of medical devices, catering to a wide range of hospitals, including those in rural areas.

By bringing calibration services to the doorstep of healthcare facilities, regardless of their location, this initiative aims to empower healthcare professionals and improve patient outcomes nationwide.

IIT Madras’s Latest Healthcare Initiatives

In another development, in February this year, researchers at (IIT Madras) and the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) collaborated to develop an India-specific AI model to precisely determine the age of a fetus during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

This initiative is part of the 'Interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research on Birth Outcomes – DBT India Initiative' (GARBH-Ini) program.

Additionally, IIT Madras researchers initiated the #Right2Face project, providing 3D-printed face implants to Black Fungus patients. This severe condition, reported in COVID-19 patients and those with certain medical conditions, received aid through approximately 50 custom implants for economically weaker sections.

Last year, IIT Madras researchers created an ML-driven computational tool, termed GBMDriver (short for GlioBlastoma Multiforme Drivers) designed to enhance the identification of cancerous tumors in the brain and spinal cord. This innovative tool is now accessible to the public online.

The method and features used in GBMDriver could be applied to diagnose other diseases. Moreover, the process may serve as a pivotal criterion for disease prognosis.