Aerosol Containment Box

Area of Science:

• Medical Engineering
• Infectious Disease Control
• Public Health

Background:

• COVID-19 poses a significant risk to healthcare providers due to human-to-human transmission.
• Aerosolized particles (<5 microm) present a major infection route for healthcare workers, bypassing standard Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Limited resources during lockdowns necessitate rapid development of accessible protective solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an innovative, low-cost barrier device to protect healthcare providers from COVID-19 infection.
• To create a rapidly deployable solution addressing the risk of aerosol transmission in clinical settings.
• To design a reusable and easily manufactured protective measure for frontline medical staff.

Main Methods:

• Conceptualization, design, and engineering of an 'Aerosol Containment Box' made from transparent acrylic.
• Manufacturing and rapid prototyping of the containment box within 3 days.
• Production and distribution of 100 units to local hospitals within 15 days.

Main Results:

• The Aerosol Containment Box effectively acts as a physical barrier against airborne viral particles.
• The device is low-cost, easily manufactured with limited resources, and reusable after disinfection.
• Successful rapid development and deployment demonstrated within a 3-day conceptualization to demonstration timeframe.

Conclusions:

• The Aerosol Containment Box is a viable, cost-effective solution for safeguarding healthcare providers against COVID-19 aerosol transmission.
• The design's rapid manufacturability and reusability make it suitable for immediate deployment in resource-limited settings.
• Sharing engineering drawings facilitates wider adoption and production by other manufacturers.