The "National Chest Wall Physiotherapy Device" developed by Atatürk University and Hamle Engineering company for the treatment of Covid-19 patients within the scope of university-industry cooperation was introduced at a press conference.

The introduction of the Chest Wall Physiotherapy Device, which the Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca examined during his visit to Erzurum last October and instructed to accelerate the clinical studies, took place in the Conference Hall of Atatürk University Research Hospital.

Atatürk University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Atilla Keskin, Research Hospital Deputy Chief Physician and the medical consultant of the project Assoc. Dr. Mine Gürsaç Çelik, project consultant Dr. Lecturer Yakup Uzun and Dr. Lecturer Buğra Kerget, faculty members who contributed to the project and Hamle Engineering company officials attended.

Providing information to press members about the National Chest Wall Physiotherapy Device, which is among the 10 most successful projects prepared by TÜBİTAK in accordance with the Covid-19 project call, Assoc. Dr. Mine Gürsaç Çelik said that the clinical tests of the device produced by Hamle Engineering Company within the scope of the project carried out by the university-industry cooperation were quite successful.

Device Used in the Treatment of 100 Covid-19 Patients

Stating that the device was developed in order to facilitate the excretion of the sputum formed due to infection and to facilitate the excretion of the sputum caused by the infection and to clean the lung in a sense by making a patient cough, Çelik summarized the production and testing stages of the device as follows: “We started this project with the 1507 Covid-19 call of TÜBİTAK. After the approval of our project, we aimed to present our national medical device with the Turkish flag to the service of our patients with an interdisciplinary approach, with the team consisting of Ata Technopolis, Faculty of Medicine and Engineering Faculty members and Hamle Engineering officials. We treated 100 Covid-19 patients hospitalized in Erzurum City Hospital with the chest wall physiotherapy device we developed. As a result of the clinical study, we saw that the pulmonary function tests of the patients improved as a result of the treatment we applied twice a day, 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening. The need for access to oxygen and intensive care for these patients has decreased. "

The Need for Intensive Care Is Eliminated in Patients Using the Device

In charge of the clinical studies of the device, Dr. Lecturer Member Buğra Kerget said that the clinical studies lasted about 4 months and that the complaints of coughing and sputum in the patients who used the device eased after the 3rd day, and that the respiratory function tests improved significantly on the 5th day. Kerget added that thanks to the treatment applied with the device, the need for intensive care in patients has disappeared.

"We Continue to Sign Projects That will Contribute to Humanity and Science"

Reminding that the whole world has been fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic for about a year, Rector Çomaklı said that it is gratifying that the device developed contributes to the healing process of patients.

Rector Çomaklı told: "With the developed device, we are very pleased with the knowledge that the cough complaints of Covid-19 patients are reduced, their breathing is improved, the intensive care needs are eliminated, and the device also prevents other organ disorders that may develop in the patients. As Atatürk University, we will sign projects that will contribute to humanity and science. I believe that this project, which was initiated in the name of making a national device, will be a source of inspiration for new studies. I thank everyone who contributed to this important work.

CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE- 31.01.2021