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Reusable snorkel masks adapted as particulate respirators.
Seligman, Henry; Zaman, Sameer; Pitcher, David S; Shun-Shin, Matthew J; Hepworth Lloyd, Freya; Androschuk, Vitaliy; Sen, Sayan; Al-Lamee, Rasha; Miller, David M; Barnett, Harry W; Haji, Gulam S; Howard, Luke S; Nijjer, Sukhjinder; Mayet, Jamil; Francis, Darrel P; Ces, Oscar; Linton, Nicholas W F; Peters, Nicholas S; Petraco, Ricardo.
  • Seligman H; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Zaman S; Department of Cardiology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
  • Pitcher DS; Imperial Centre for Cardiac Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Shun-Shin MJ; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Hepworth Lloyd F; Department of Cardiology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
  • Androschuk V; Imperial Centre for Cardiac Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Sen S; Imperial Centre for Cardiac Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Al-Lamee R; Advanced Hackspace, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Miller DM; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Barnett HW; Department of Cardiology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
  • Haji GS; Imperial Centre for Cardiac Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Howard LS; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Nijjer S; Imperial Centre for Cardiac Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Mayet J; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Francis DP; Imperial Centre for Cardiac Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Ces O; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Linton NWF; Department of Cardiology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
  • Peters NS; Imperial Centre for Cardiac Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Petraco R; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
PLoS One ; 16(4): e0249201, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1170003
ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION:

During viral pandemics, filtering facepiece (FFP) masks together with eye protection form the essential components of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers. There remain concerns regarding insufficient global supply and imperfect protection offered by currently available PPE strategies. A range of full-face snorkel masks were adapted to accept high grade medical respiratory filters using bespoke-designed 3D-printed connectors. We compared the protection offered by the snorkel to that of standard PPE using a placebo-controlled respirator filtering test as well as a fluorescent droplet deposition experiment. Out of the 56 subjects tested, 42 (75%) passed filtering testing with the snorkel mask compared to 31 (55%) with a FFP3 respirator mask (p = 0.003). Amongst the 43 subjects who were not excluded following a placebo control, 85% passed filtering testing with the snorkel versus to 68% with a FFP3 mask (p = 0.008). Following front and lateral spray of fluorescence liquid particles, the snorkel mask also provided superior protection against droplet deposition within the subject's face, when compared to a standard PPE combination of FFP3 masks and eye protection (3.19x108 versus 6.81x108 fluorescence units, p<0.001). The 3D printable adaptors are available for free download online at https//www.ImperialHackspace.com/COVID-19-Snorkel-Respirator-Project/.

CONCLUSION:

Full-face snorkel masks adapted as particulate respirators performed better than a standard PPE combination of FFP3 mask and eye protection against aerosol inhalation and droplet deposition. This adaptation is therefore a promising PPE solution for healthcare workers during highly contagious viral outbreaks.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Respiratory Protective Devices / Occupational Exposure / Health Personnel / COVID-19 / Masks Type of study: Experimental Studies / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0249201

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Respiratory Protective Devices / Occupational Exposure / Health Personnel / COVID-19 / Masks Type of study: Experimental Studies / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0249201