By Mohammed Shafeeq

Hyderabad, Aug 7 (IANS): Interventional Gastroenterologist Dr Yalaka Rami Reddy has bagged the patent for developing a unique surgical device which would make colonoscopy intervention process easier than its existing form.

Composite Polypectomy Snare is easy to handle and also reduces the time taken to perform colonoscopy on complicated polyps.

The government of India recently granted the patent to him for 'Polypectomy device for excision of polyps and method employed thereof'.

Polypectomy is the surgical removal of a polyp. Colon polyps can be removed through open abdominal surgery, but more commonly it is performed during a colonoscopy. The endoscopist may snip off a small polyp with a forceps or remove a larger polyp with a snare that burns through the base of the polyp.

A forceps-grasping device is an instrument used to either biopsy or completely remove small polyps. A snare device is an instrument with a wire loop, which can be tightened around the base of a polyp. Once it is closed around the polyp, one can transect/cut the polyp using this device. Dr Rami Reddy's innovation to these existing devices makes this entire process simpler and faster.

"There are certain complexities in the existing devices used to snare polyps from inside the colon region in a human body, and the challenges I personally faced or many young or novice endoscopists face compelled me to innovate this device," said Dr Rami Reddy, Interventional Gastroenterologist at Gleneagles Global Hospitals, a leading multi-speciality healthcare provider in Hyderabad.

"Controlling internal bleeding will be made easy using this innovation, which was a complicated affair in the earlier instances. This device will now undergo the rigours of testing by concerned authorities, and sometime soon it will hopefully be put to commercial use," said the doctor.

The patent was filed last year and the same was awarded by the Government of India recently.

"Our institution is proud to claim that we have an innovator who constantly works towards developing solutions to complex problems being faced by healthcare professionals. Innovations by Dr Rami Reddy will certainly redefine the approach gastroenterologists would take to surgical and non-surgical procedures in the times to come. The hospital and our parent organization, IHH Healthcare from Singapore, congratulate Dr Reddy and wishes him many more successes in the times ahead," said Gaurav Khurana, CEO, Gleneagles Global Hospitals – Lakdikapul.

This is the second patent won by Dr Rami Reddy for his product innovations. Earlier, the senior gastroenterologist and therapeutic endoscopist developed a feeding pipe which will provide great relief to terminally ill patients suffering from esophageal cancer. This unique feeding tube will address current problems like complete blockage in the esophagus occurring due to cancers.

This is an enteral feeding tube used in patients with Absolute Dysphagia. It is useful in patients with Esophageal Strictures involving the mid and lower third of the esophagus. It is extremely beneficial for patients with financial constraints who cannot afford metallic stents.

Most of the time, terminally ill patients (Carcinoma Esophagus) are put on nasogastric tubes. This causes a lot of nasal discomforts and these patients cannot even taste anything due to absolute dysphagia. This improvised tube allows the patient to take feeds orally as well as by the tube.

Dr Rami Reddy did his MBBS from Osmania Medical College. He did Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) (internal medicine) and Doctor of Medicine (D.M.) at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh.

An out of the box thinker, he is an All India top ranker in entrance exams. He is first author of 5 novel publications, and an innovator with 8 patent applications.