Researchers Build Device To Protect Medical Staff From COVID-19 Patients

As the year comes to an end, COVID-19 continues to spread around the world like wildfire, and it¡¯s showing no signs of stopping.

Even though several vaccines have boasted stellar effectiveness percentages, there is still time for the vaccines to finally be out in the public.

Reuters

Until then, us normal people continue to wear face masks and continue to maintain social distancing to prevent the spreading of the novel coronavirus. However, for the medical staff treating COVID-19 patients, things are far dangerous, staying amidst infected people in completely sealed PPE suits that cause immense discomfort.

Team of researchers in Portugal have developed an aerosol-protective barrier that can be placed over patients to prevent the spreading of aerosol droplets to medical staff. It¡¯s essentially a box made out of transparent acrylic that rests on top of the patient, with a slit to rest on the chest of the patient. This way, the droplets won¡¯t scatter around the whole room and limit the spreading of SARS CoV-2.

Covinbox-BPA

Initial versions of the COVINBox-BPA were designed to keep patients and medical staff safe in operating rooms. It was mounted like a tent on a separator between the anaesthesia area and the surgical area. However, the prototype evolved and now it has been applied to intensive care units, emergency rooms, doctors offices etc.

Teams involved to develop this canopy include anesthesiologists at the Centro Hospitalar Universit¨¢rio Cova da Beira (CHUCB) and by a professor at the R&D unit Aeronautics and Astronautics Research Center (AEROG) based at the University of Beira Interior. The contraption is expected to be mass-produced and marketed by Joalpe International.

Covinbox-BPA

The COVINBox is currently being tested to be certified by the National Authority for Medicines and Health Products, INfarmed. It is also awaiting to obtain a CE certification.