Personal Ventilation Hood for Hospital Beds Contains Droplet Spread of Coronavirus in ICUs

Researchers from the University of Melbourne (Victoria, Australia) have designed a personal ventilation hood for hospital beds to help contain the droplet spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in intensive care units (ICUs).

During the current pandemic, doctors, nurses and allied health professionals are working under increasing pressure and risk of cross-contamination. A personal ventilation hood for hospital beds can better protect healthcare workers by individually isolating critically ill patients with COVID-19. It is now known that COVID-19 is carried via droplets expelled by infected patients. The transparent, movable personal ventilation hood sucks air away from the patient while creating an effective droplet containment barrier. The device is also large enough to accommodate other medical equipment that might be attached to the patient.

The device has been prototyped and tested with a team of fluid dynamics researchers, in consultation with intensive care specialists, nurses and other infectious disease experts to ensure that its application is practical, hygienic, effective and safe. The prototype device has been made using readily accessible components at a low cost, making it suitable for low to middle income countries.

“Our testing has shown that the hood allows healthcare workers to interact with their patients and get a visual sense of their condition through the clear plastic, but with a reduced risk of infection,” said Associate Professor Forbes McGain, an intensive care specialist at Western Health who is also an honorary with the University of Melbourne's Centre for Integrated Critical Care.

Related Links:
University of Melbourne