Indigenous medical technology company InnAccel Technologies is all set to launch this month the world’s first portable neonatal CPAP device for premature babies as a breathing aid to save their life.

The affordable device, known as SAANS, which saved lives of nearly 70 babies through its prototype demo, has got grants from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) of the government’s Department of Technology and the Millennium Alliance supported by USAID, UK Government, FICCI and Technology Development Board of the Government of India.

The device is built to provide breathing support to critically-ill neonates with Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in resource-poor settings and during transport. It is expected to help reduce the country’s infant mortality rate. A key innovation quotient of the product is that it can be powered in multiple ways, including a manual setting, with minimal skill.

“Around 1.60 lakh premature babies die in India annually due to respiratory distress, a third of them during transport. The Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device for these babies is expected to enhance their survival chances,” Siraj Dhanani, Founder-CEO of the Bengaluru-based company, told BusinessLine.

For marketing SAANS, InnAccel Technologies is targeting about 55,000 institutions, hospitals, maternity homes etc. “This being the world’s first device of this kind, no imported or Indian-made substitution is available. We don’t replace any product anywhere. This is our USP.”