Bengaluru, Sep 22 (IANS): Wipro 3D, the metal additive manufacturing (AM) business of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering (WIN), on Tuesday said it has entered into a partnership with GenWorks Health to enable broad-based access to affordable breathing assistance medical devices amid surge in Covid-19 cases in India.

About 5.8 per cent Covid-19 patients require oxygen therapy and 1.7 per cent need intensive care.

To meet the needs of a non-invasive respiratory assistance device, Wipro 3D in collaboration with Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) in Kerala developed AirBridge, a battery backed emergency breathing assistance system.

AirBridge is specifically aimed at patients that need breathing assistance, but do not have access to a ventilator support.

The device can be used to support patients from few hours to few days and can work anywhere including in remote places and during transportation of patients where continuous electricity supply is a challenge.

"We have in AirBridge, a good balance of capability to offer wide range of use cases, cost efficiency and operability that can offer an excellent solution to address respiratory distress especially Covid-19 patients," Ajay Parikh, Vice President & Business Head, Wipro 3D, said in a statement.

"With support from GenWorks Health, we hope to accelerate adoption of this life saving technology across healthcare facilities in the country," he added.

However, it should be noted that Wipro Chitra AirBridge emergency breathing assistance system is not a replacement for mechanical ventilators used in the treatment of Covid patients or patients that require respiratory support.

It is designed to provide short term breathing support to patients who are waiting for ventilation support including in transportation of patient to hospital.