Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) celebrated a significant milestone as the 5 millionth medical device was sterilised using an indigenously developed electron linear accelerator. This achievement places India among a select group of nations capable of developing and deploying such advanced radiation processing technology.
The state-of-the-art electron beam facility, located at ARPF near Choithram Mandi, showcases the maturity of this homegrown technology and has been instrumental in providing electron beam processing services to the Indian medical device industry through RRCAT incubation Centre, i.e., AIC ?-Hub.
Dr AK Mohanty, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, personally witnessed this milestone, encouraging Indian scientists and engineers to continue their efforts in overcoming challenges and achieving such significant milestones.
Unmesh Malshe, director of RRCAT, and T A Puntambekar, additional director RRCAT were also present on this momentous occasion. RRCAT’s 10 MeV, 6 kW electron linear accelerator delivers precision-controlled irradiation doses ranging from a few Grays (Gy) to several Mega Grays (MGy) for a variety of applications.
Its versatility has enabled it to be used for commercial sterilisation of medical devices, mutation breeding for improved crop varieties, colour modification of gemstones, creation of novel materials, modification of semiconductor properties, testing of ISRO components, and various other R&D applications for industries and academia.
AIC ?-Hub facilitates the provision of electron beam irradiation services to Indian industries at competitive prices to conventional sterilisation technology. The facility operates in strict compliance with regulatory requirements from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), and State Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).
A robust quality management system, certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 13485, ensures adherence to Medical Device Rules (MDR)-2017. Electron beam irradiation is gaining global recognition due to its eco-friendly, efficient, and secure nature. RRCAT’s achievement aligns with the Department of Atomic Energy’s commitment to leveraging technology for societal benefit.
This indigenously developed e-beam technology has the potential to position India as a global leader in medical device sterilisation and other radiation-based applications.
