DIY COVID PPE for Hospitals
COVID project to supply and validate scuba masks respirators during the PPE shortage.
Context
During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals faced critical shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) due to failures in global supply chains. This created immediate risk for healthcare workers, particularly in high-exposure settings. The challenge was not only to identify alternative PPE solutions but also to ensure they met basic safety and filtration requirements for clinical use. Rapid, evidence-based validation was required before such systems could be deployed.
What We Did
We developed and evaluated a rapidly deployable alternative PPE system based on modified full-face snorkelling masks fitted with external filter attachments. The goal was to repurpose widely available consumer equipment into functional respirator systems that could be assembled locally.
What We Built
Working with engineers, Labor Spiez, and clinical partners, we tested multiple configurations to assess filtration performance, fit, and usability, and consolidated the results into a rapid publication to guide emergency use.
My Role
I initiated the project in response to the PPE shortage and assembled a cross-disciplinary team spanning engineering, clinical, and regulatory domains. I coordinated the overall effort, including sourcing components, aligning testing workflows, and managing communication between institutions. I also supported design iterations and contributed to translating experimental results into a publishable study.
Outcomes
This work resulted in the evaluation of alternative PPE configurations during the COVID-19 crisis. The study provided evidence-based guidance on the feasibility and limitations of repurposed respirator systems for emergency use and was published in a journal.
Related publications
- Protection Level and Reusability of a Modified Full-Face Snorkel Mask as Alternative Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 PandemicChemical Research in Toxicology · 2021
- PreprintProtection Level and Reusability of a Modified Full-Face Snorkel Mask as Alternative Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 PandemicmedRxiv · 2020