NEW DELHI: On Tuesday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in partnership with AIIMS and Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, conducted a feasibility study to explore the potential of using drones for transporting sensitive biomaterials like human corneas and amniotic membrane grafts from peripheral collection centers to major hospitals for corneal transplant procedures.
As part of the trial, a drone was used to transport corneal tissue from Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital in Sonipat to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at AIIMS-Jhajjar, and then on to AIIMS-Delhi. The drone completed the journey in approximately 40 minutes, a route that typically takes 2 to 2.5 hours by road.
“The drone ensured optimal conditions to preserve the specimen’s integrity, and upon arrival, the cornea was evaluated, leading to a successful transplant,” an official said. They also noted that drone-based transportation could help close the gap between donor sites and recipients, ensuring that viable tissue reaches patients in time and more people regain their sight.
In recent years, ICMR’s i-DRONE initiative has successfully demonstrated the use of drones to deliver crucial medical supplies across various regions of India.
