Individual Biocontainment Unit to Reduce Viral Transmission
As researchers race to find a cure or vaccine for the novel coronavirus, frontline medical workers and others struggle to contain it. Efforts to reduce viral transmission have been implemented to varying degrees around the globe, including social distancing and widespread mask usage. Healthcare workers, many of whom lack access to adequate personal protective equipment, are uniquely vulnerable to this disease. Similarly, other individuals who are unable to socially distance, such as unexposed patients admitted for separate concerns, have a heightened risk of infection. Negative pressure isolation rooms can be built into a hospital or tent, but these require significant manufacturing and come with a high cost, and still require healthcare workers to come into close contact with infected patients. Viral containment and transmission reduction is critical to minimize infection rates and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.
Description
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have devised a unique biocontainment isolation hood to meet the immediate need of emergency departments, intensive care units, operating rooms, emergency medical services, field hospitals and naval ships, built using off-the-shelf components from any hardware store for a total cost of less than $500. This single-patient Individual Biocontainment Unit (IBU) is constructed using a plastic storage bin placed over the patient’s head and neck, a variable speed fan for airflow, a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter, and a plastic tarp over the patient’s torso; 3D printed or injection molded components can be used to assemble the device. Importantly, the components used to build the IBU are not in high demand for CPAP/BiPAP or ventilator construction or usage, preventing strain on an already constricted medical supply chain. The parts are low-cost, readily available, and the design is easily scalable, allowing for rapid deployment during this or any future outbreaks.Applications
· Preventing transmission of pathogens between patient and caretaker or other patients· Quickly and efficiently outfitting field hospitals or other units that may not have adequate protective measures in place
Advantages
· Rapidly deployable· Easily scalable
· Low-cost, can be assembled from off-the-shelf parts for <$500 each
· Necessary parts are not in high demand for other crucial medical devices, preventing additional strain on the supply chain
· Unlike negative-pressure isolation rooms, healthcare workers can still safely access patients