Doctor couple Dr Nisanth Nambison and Dr Smita Nambison has developed single piece suit personal protective equipment (PPE) suit for protection from a micro-organism with automated donning and doffing system.
“PPE is not recommended to be worn by the general public. This PPE suit is for policemen, emergency workers, and even people in an office space,” said Government Homeo Medical College & Hospital, Bhopal associate professor, Dr Nisanth Nambison.
The main feature of the suit is an apparatus to wear and remove the PPE without actually directly touching the exterior of the PPE and reduce the risk of infection.
Several doctors and other medical staff in spite of wearing PPE contracted the infections due to error in the removal of the PPE. The new design assists in the safe removal of PPE, he added.
The person stands under a rectangular 4-sided piped structure and strings. When the bottom of the cassock with rings is hooked with the string, the rotation of pulley (manual or motorized) will pull thecassock on all four corners and lift it vertically hooks on the end via a pulley, he explained.
It is a single piece PPE with no sequential wearing, very easy to wear, can be worn in no time. A patent from the office of the controller general of patents, designs, and trademarks (CGPDTM) has been filed for. “While removing a PPE suit risk of infection spread is highest. This suit minimizes the risk of cross-contamination,” said Dr Nambison.
He estimates the entire setup along with a PPE suit would cost less than the consequence of not wearing it. The apparatus for donning on and doffing off can be used by multiple people. The PPE is also reusable.
The suit is ideal for people with low or no risk and as extra care for hospital settings. With COVID-19 here to stay the new reality and use of suit can be for travel, for going to the workplace, for going into public places, hospital visits (as an attendant), explained Dr Smita Nambison. The suit meets ISO 16603 class 3 exposure pressure, or equivalent standards.
Features:
Cassock: is a 360-degree cover of the torso, arm, forearm, thigh, and leg. The cassock is designed to protect the body of humans from a biological agent in the environment. It is open at the bottom with provision to fasten with buttons/Velcro.
Gloves: Rubber coated extension of cassock sleeves, starting at the level of the wrist with elastic band in the sleeve.
Donner and doffer: is a 4 piped structure with a rectangular 4-sided piped structure connecting them at the top. The 4 piped structure holds strings with hooks on the end via a pulley.
When the bottom of the cassock with rings is hooked with the string, the rotation of pulley (manual or motorized) will pull the cassock on all four corners and lift it vertically.Sprinklers at the 4 piped structure can sprinkle disinfectant PPE and alternatively, it can be washed or disinfected with the help of appropriate wavelength of UV light or fumigation. Inflating ProMio from the bottom will reveal if there is a puncture in the PPE. Punctured PPE not safe for use.