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We'll be using this to lay out design briefs for particular challenge items that we can see are needed to help scale innovation responses.
HealthCareWorkers (HCWs) are facing critical PPE shortages. There are a range of emerging designs for infection control face shields, using 3D prints for the forehead supports and mask stiffening, for holding acetate shields.
Intubation Box works by sitting over the head and shoulders of a patient as they are intubated by a provider. The box acts as a protective shield between the patient and medical staff, thereby hopefully minimizing the medical staff’s exposure to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
These assist with infection control, by allowing handles to be turned with something other than a hand.
Breathing (respiration) support comes in 2 main stages:
- preICU - breathing may be starting to be affected, creating shortness of breath (dyspnoea)- may be evident when in home isolation, or the patient may be progressed into a MAASH style field hospital adjacent to ICU facilities;
- ICU - when someone has deteriorated into Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, requiring ventilation to deliver sufficient O2 to keep them alive
The COVID-19 virus is easily aerosolised, spreading via breath and air onto surfaces, creating infection risk for others (esp HCWs with limited PPE). Containing that risk is important. It's why infected people are encouraged to wear facemasks when in isolation.
Ventilation support for less severe COVID-19 cases has been proven in Italy, using an adapted full face snorkel for O2 delivery and aerosolisation risk control, but requires 3d printed adaptors to interface with hospital ventilation systems.
MIT have assembled an open project at https://e-vent.mit.edu to automate manual respirators that are generally available.
(FDA is the US equivalent of Australia's TGA)
26 March 2020 The FDA has just released specific guidance around an Enforcement Policy for Ventilators and Accessories and Other Respiratory Devices During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). See Ventilators-Enforcement-Guidance.pdf
22 March 2020 FDA released information pertaining to ventilator supply and strategies for healthcare providers, which can be found at https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/letters-health-care-providers/ventilator-supply-mitigation-strategies-letter-health-care-providers
The COVIDCrisisHack is part of a larger set of capability development initiatives that we're working on with FLEDGE Innovation Labs, Assemblient and the Australian Innovation Leaders community.
You can read more about it at https://www.assemblient.com/news/2020/3/24/breathing-life-into-covid19-fight and https://www.assemblient.com/news/2020/3/27/makerspaces-creating-impact-for-covid-19-ppe-and-healthcare-supply-chain