Kanpur: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) and Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) have collaboratively developed a working prototype of a Positive Pressure Respirator System (PPRS) to address the problem of acute global scarcity of N95 respirators, a critical component of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits.
The team led by Professor Nachiketa Tiwari (IIT-Kanpur), and Professor Devendra Gupta, in-charge, Covid-19 ICU (SGPGI) developed this prototype.
Prof Tiwari said that the PPRS is a much safer alternative to the N95 respirator. He said that the existing N95 respirator do not protect the user if there is an imperfect seal between the mask and the face, as there is negative pressure inside the mask. “In contrast, the PPRS provides uncontaminated air by using positive pressure. Thus, contaminated air from the room cannot enter the PPRS even in presence of any leakage”, Prof Tiwari added.
“As compared to the PPRS, N95 respirator is only 95% efficient, thus posing risk of infection for health professionals working in isolation wards with large number of Covid-19 infected patients for longer durations. The PPRS eliminates this risk as well,” he added.
The PPRS is essentially made up of a comfortable and leak-proof transparent enclosure for mouth and nose, which receives positive pressure air from a portable, light, and wearable air-bottle, as well as a trolley-mounted large cylinder. The device can deliver uncontaminated air for over six hours. It uses locally produced reliable one-way valves to avoid the inflow of contaminated air.
The new PPRS is simple, rugged, and incorporates multiple design features to protect the user from contamination. It has a universal - one-size-fits-all design and is made by easily available local materials for fabrication. “Thus, such PPRS devices can be produced in very large numbers in a very short time frame across the country. The design team has also developed a product-process video, which can be viewed to manufacture the device locally”, Prof Tiwari said.
The team led by Professor Nachiketa Tiwari (IIT-Kanpur), and Professor Devendra Gupta, in-charge, Covid-19 ICU (SGPGI) developed this prototype.
Prof Tiwari said that the PPRS is a much safer alternative to the N95 respirator. He said that the existing N95 respirator do not protect the user if there is an imperfect seal between the mask and the face, as there is negative pressure inside the mask. “In contrast, the PPRS provides uncontaminated air by using positive pressure. Thus, contaminated air from the room cannot enter the PPRS even in presence of any leakage”, Prof Tiwari added.
“As compared to the PPRS, N95 respirator is only 95% efficient, thus posing risk of infection for health professionals working in isolation wards with large number of Covid-19 infected patients for longer durations. The PPRS eliminates this risk as well,” he added.
The PPRS is essentially made up of a comfortable and leak-proof transparent enclosure for mouth and nose, which receives positive pressure air from a portable, light, and wearable air-bottle, as well as a trolley-mounted large cylinder. The device can deliver uncontaminated air for over six hours. It uses locally produced reliable one-way valves to avoid the inflow of contaminated air.
The new PPRS is simple, rugged, and incorporates multiple design features to protect the user from contamination. It has a universal - one-size-fits-all design and is made by easily available local materials for fabrication. “Thus, such PPRS devices can be produced in very large numbers in a very short time frame across the country. The design team has also developed a product-process video, which can be viewed to manufacture the device locally”, Prof Tiwari said.
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