The Ural Optical and Mechanical Plant named after E. S. Yalamov (UOMP) of Schwabe Holding under Rostec State Corporation demonstrated the results of a project to modernize equipment for nursing newborns.
Today about 5% of newborns in Russia are born prematurely, forming the main statistics of infant mortality. Therefore, neonatal medical equipment, which allows to aid such children, is in high demand in medical and obstetric institutions.
According to Alexey Chupov, Chief Designer of UOMP medical products, the modernization of the BONO line of neonatal medical products—the Radiant Heat-BONO neonatal heater and the ORS-BONO open neonatal resuscitation system—will increase technological independence, which is extremely important today in the context of sanctions and the geopolitical situation.
“The project made it possible to unify the component base and functional blocks of products by reducing the share of foreign-made materials and components in the equipment, as well as to increase manufacturability and reduce the labor intensity of production by minimizing the influence of the human factor,” notes Alexey Chupov.
The open resuscitation system “ORS-BONO” helps to reduce the time of nursing and treatment of infants, as well as reduce the risks of complications or diseases associated with hyperbilirubinemia, or jaundice, which affects about 60% of newborns. This is the first locally produced device that combines an infrared heater, a phototherapy module and a respiratory unit. The infrared heater “Radiant Heat-BONO” can be used as the main or additional heat source.
“Neonatologists use it in the process of resuscitation and super-intensive phototherapy of newborns,” says Alexey Chupov. “Among the advantages of the device are mobility and compact size, availability of preheating mode, as well as uniform heat distribution over the working area. Today, both products are used in medical institutions in Russia and neighboring countries”.
The development of high-tech production of medical devices for nursing newborns, including premature babies and extremely low birth weight babies, is of crucial social importance and corresponds to the national priorities to ensure sustainable population growth in the Russian Federation.
“This project is a vivid example of successful cooperation between the university and an industrial partner,” emphasizes Viktor Koksharov, Rector of UrFU. “Thanks to the joint efforts of UOMP employees and our scientists, it was possible to solve the most important problems of selecting the necessary materials and components with a focus on technological independence and import substitution in a short period of time. Advanced technology has been implemented in this medical equipment, which makes it very efficient and competitive not only in Russia, but also on a global scale. The more such systems appear in Russian hospitals, the more newborns will be able to receive the necessary care. We are doing our best to address this socially significant objective. The project is being implemented as part of the Ural Interregional Research and Educational Center initiated by our university. The center is aimed at developing competitive technologies and introducing them as soon as possible”.
Part of the funds for the equipment modernization were allocated from the regional budget by the decision of Sverdlovsk Region Governor Evgeny Kuyvashev.
“On the initiative of Evgeny Kuyvashev, the Sverdlovsk Region invests in the development of production infrastructure, which is the basis for the implementation of projects to produce priority industrial products. For example, 100 million rubles is allocated annually from the regional budget to support import-substituting projects of the participants of the Ural Interregional Research and Educational Center for Advanced Production Technologies and Materials. This includes 25 million rubles allocated in 2022 for the modernization of medical neonatal equipment. This made it possible to avoid using foreign components and improve manufacturability,” says Sergey Perestoronin, Minister of Industry and Science of the Sverdlovsk Region.
According to Anatoly Sludnykh, General Director of UOMP, thanks to joint work with partners, UOMP neonatal equipment modernization projects are reaching a new level.
“Independence from foreign components is one of the most important goals for us,” adds Anatoly Sludnykh.
Eduard Nikulnikov