Bangalore: An Indian firm is supplying huge quantities of "blood warmers", a battery operated device to maintain temperature during blood transfusion, being used by the US Army to treat war casualties in Iraq.

Bangalore-based electronic product firm Opto Circuits Ltd is manufacturing these devices for "Estil", a US-based company, which has bagged a contract from the American Army.

"The US Army is using the product in the Iraq war," Opto Circuits Ltd managing director Vinod Ramnani said.

A news photo last week of an American doctor treating a two-year old Iraqi child showed the device being used, he said.

"It is a patented product of Estil, which we have started manufacturing since eight months on a turnkey basis. We have an agreement with them to sell the product in India and the Asian countries, whereas they sell it in the US market," he said.

The product helps maintain blood temperature during transfusion to that of a human body at 37 degree celsius, which is crucial in cold areas where the blood thickens and can be fatal to a patient.

Ramnani said Opto Circuits expects to earn a revenue of Rs 12 crore from this product alone.

"The device could be used to retain warmth of any fluid including antibiotics and is helpful for surgeons to treat critically injured patients," he said.

PTI