COVID-19 - Protective Gear solutions

COVID-19 - Protective Gear solutions - open-source assistive technology concept by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) community

About this project

This design was created by Choco_Mex. This model of adapter designed to be 3D printed even in deposition machines seeks to allow the best filtration membrane to which the user has access to be used, thus preventing the mask from being disused due to a lack of specialized filters.

It consists of two parts, the adapter (which connects to the mask where the snorkel would originally be connected) and the grill that traps and seals the filter membrane against the adapter. For more details please see the resources section below.

The challenge

Due to the global pandemic, the supply of face masks is extremely limited and not available to those who need them most. Moreover, the regular masks lifecycle is estimated at 8 hours whereas the virus can live up to 72 hours. An even greater danger that conventional masks present is that at the end of the day we would have a high viral/bacterial load trapped within millimeters of our nose and mouth, further exposing ourselves to these dangerous microbes.

Who it helps

Medical staff, first responders, police, and others on the front lines of combatting COVID-19 are in dire need of protective gear that will allow them to keep safe and healthy so that they keep treating patients, emergencies and maintain the public order.

How it works

For the original page click here.

Characteristics:

This model of adapter designed to be 3D printed even in deposition machines seeks to allow the best filtration membrane to which the user has access to be used, thus preventing the mask from being disused due to a lack of specialized filters.

It consists of two parts, the adapter (which connects to the mask where the snorkel would originally be connected) and the grill that traps and seals the filter membrane against the adapter.

The filter is a cutout of some available filter membrane such as the material of an N95 mask, a P100 filter, cloth cloth, coffee filter, HEPA vacuum cleaner bags (without fiberglass), etc.

Advantage:

• The device is easily manufactured on 3D deposition machines

• By allowing the use of various filter membranes, it prevents the mask from becoming obsolete. When the resource of the different possible filter membranes is scarce, it allows protection even if it is not the ideal material.

• Disposable N95 masks must be discarded because they lose their shape and stop sealing against the face because they are highly exposed to moisture from breathing and constant user manipulation. With this device the filter material of the mask lasts much longer since it is much less exposed to moisture and its structure is permanently maintained between the adapter and the grill.

• The device can be easily cleaned with soap and water (without the filter membrane)

• The device is more compact, preventing it from extending far beyond the head, exposing it to shocks.

• A single filter membrane resource can be transformed into several and multiply it. For example, a single N95 mask can be cut into 2 or more filter membranes.

• The device can be quickly redesigned to fit different makes and models of snorkel masks.

• The device allows you to “cover” the grill by hand to perform the face seal test with the mask when inhaling and exhaling with the grill locked.

Print Settings

Printer brand:

LulzBot

Printer:

TAZ 4

Rafts:

No

Supports:

No

Resolution:

0.22 layer

Infill:

20%

Filament_brand:

3.00mm (2.85 mm) filament

Filament_material:

ABS

Project details

The build files for COVID-19 - Protective Gear solutions are free to download from this page - open source, shared by TOM: Tikkun Olam Makers.

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