In India, approximately 70 lakh individuals suffer from burn injuries annually, with a significant number requiring immediate and often unaffordable skin grafting procedures. Recognizing the need for a cost-effective and efficient solution, in 2017 Saiprasad embarked on developing a device that could simplify and expedite the healing process for open wounds.

The skin spray gun, a portable surgical device, utilizes autologous skin transplantation, where a small patch of the patient’s healthy skin is shredded and mixed with a specially formulated solution. This mixture is then sprayed onto the wound, allowing for real-time skin regeneration. The device can cover up to 600 square centimeters of open wounds in just 20 minutes, a significant improvement over traditional methods that require at least an hour. This innovation not only reduces the time and cost of treatment but also minimizes the need for multiple hospital visits and surgeries, making it accessible to a broader population.

A promising future for healthcare

Pacify Medical was incubated at SINE (Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship), IIT-Bombay, and combines engineering and medical expertise with biomedicine to innovate solutions for trauma, chronic wounds, and surgical management. 

The development of the skin spray gun aligns with India’s National Health Mission and the Ayushman Bharat initiative, both of which aim to make affordable and quality healthcare accessible to all, especially in underserved regions. It also supports the Department of Biotechnology’s push for indigenous biomedical innovations under the Make in India and Startup India frameworks. Backed by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and supported in part by MIT, the innovation is a strong example of public-private-academic collaboration promoting translational healthcare research. By offering a homegrown solution to a long-standing medical challenge, the device contributes to India’s broader objectives in universal health coverage, innovation-driven entrepreneurship, and inclusive development.

Testing and recognition

After rigorous testing on human skin sourced from Masina Hospital in Mumbai, the prototype was deemed ready for pilot testing. Early in 2021, three hospitals in Mumbai and Pune began using the device, with results expected to confirm its efficacy after a nine-month recovery period. The innovation has already garnered significant recognition, winning first place at the Abdul Kalam International Innovation Conclave in September 2021. Through his startup, Pacify Medical Technologies, Saiprasad aims to commercialize the skin spray gun within a year, making it widely available across India.

The skin spray gun holds immense potential for replication and scalability across India and beyond. By improving the graft-to-wound area coverage ratio, it offers a practical solution for surgeons dealing with extensive injuries and limited healthy skin. This innovation not only promises to enhance patient outcomes but also positions India as a leader in medical technology innovation. As the device moves towards commercialization, it stands as a beacon of hope for millions of patients, embodying the transformative power of indigenous innovation in addressing pressing healthcare needs.