Special Topics in Engineering Design: Design to Deliver (2020)

PAPR Project

Both the Veterans Affairs Hospital and Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC have PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) parts from different years and companies that are incompatible, resulting in a lack of available medical equipment needed to treat patients with respiratory complications from COVID-19. My team's goal was to create a universal adaptor to allow incompatible PAPR blowers and hoods to be connected. 

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The design criteria for the device include cost, usability, and durability. The design solution selected was a neoprene sleeve that stretches to fit around the blower and mask tubing. There is a 1.5” long PVC coupling in the sleeve for support. The sleeve is secured to the PAPR tubing with zip-ties or hose clamps.

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Conceptual models and low fidelity prototypes have been constructed and tested with a CPAP machine (see above video), but high fidelity prototypes have not been made or tested with PAPRs.

Throughout the project, my teammate, our professor, and I consulted a physician from the Veterans Affairs Hospital and a physician from Duke University Hospital. 

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During this project, I learned more about hospital cleaning protocol, medical equipment safety requirements, such as not off-gasing any products into the air, and hospital-safe materials.

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