BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
MACHSTAR has been instrumental in developing shockwave-based applications in the field of biology & medicine. Most of the devices being developed are undergoing clinical trials after great success with extensive experiments in animal model. The devices will be ready for marketing shortly.
The areas of current research are listed below:
- Shockwave driven needle-less drug delivery system
- Shockwave based non-invasive wound healing device.
- Shockwave based therapy in reproductive medicine & urology.
- Shockwave therapy in dental medicine.
- Shockwave mediated lung-biofilm disruption.
- Cell transformation using shockwaves.
FRACKING TECHNOLOGY
MACHSTAR has performed significant research and development towards formulating innovative technology to replace hydrofracking and to generate self-propping permanent fissures with the use of shockwaves in geoformation at 1.5 km depth. MACHSTAR has developed tools with different working principles and has tested it in oil fields during its recent concluded project with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). The results have been very promising and presently MACHSTAR is working on optimizing and standardizing the technology for the use in different field environments. Shockwave assisted fracking technology is a green alternative to the existing methods of fracking with minimal environmental impact. MACHSTAR is also exploring the various routes to possible commercialization of this technology.
ROCK BLASTING
In mines, explosives are used to generate the shockwaves that blast rocks into fragments. These fragments are later transported to huge crushers followed by the processes involved in the extraction of the ore. The use of explosives, although economically very viable, is not a preferred method for shockwave generation in mines because of incidents involving smuggling of these explosives for terrorist activities.
There is a need to replace use of explosives in the mining industry with a technology that is safe and secure. MACHSTAR has invented a tool that works on a completely green technology to perform blasting operations in mines without the use of explosives. Extensive field tests are being performed using this technology.
TEA PROCESSING
MACHSTAR has successfully developed a shockwave-based machinery to treat tea leaves to improve the productivity and quality of tea. Two of these machines are currently processing about 60,000 kg of tea per day during the trial period.
BAMBOO TREATMENT
Shock wave treatment of bamboo for preservative impregnation is a radical improvement to reach the final output within minutes of application. The methodology entails immersing the bamboo in a large tank (shock tube) of the preservative solution, and then generating a shock wave in the liquid at one end, which instantly forces the chemicals to enter all the fibres of the wood. Depending on the hardness and species of bamboo used, multiple applications of the shock wave might be required. MACHSTAR has developed and tested a setup for this treatment along with the help of Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board.
