Ng Teng Fong General Hospital collaborates with Ngee Ann Polytechnic to develop Bio-aerosol containment units to protect healthcare workers
12 Aug 2020 | Lianhe Zaobao
Newly developed bio-aerosol containment unit (BCU) protects first responders from droplets during attempts to resuscitate COVID-19 patients in the ICU.
The first-of-its-kind BCU developed by Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic acts as an additional protective layer for first responders who are only wearing PPE suits. This effectively reduces the delay in offering immediate treatment to patients due to the need to wear additional protective layers.
As Dr Tan Chee Keat, NTFGH’s Head and Senior Consultant of Intensive Care Medicine mentioned in a previous press conference, healthcare workers are made to wear a powered air-purifying respirator before intubating patients. However, it takes 5-10 minutes to put on the respirator, putting off immediate treatment to patients. The BCU then allows first responders to perform immediate resuscitation before other members of the team put on the respirators to follow-up with aerosol-generating procedures.
The BCU is made of transparent acrylic that measures 50cm in length, 68cm in width and 60cm in height, acting as a shell-like protective layer above the patients shoulders and head. Two openings on the top of the BCU allow for access for medical procedures.
Source: Lianhe Zaobao © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.
The first-of-its-kind BCU developed by Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic acts as an additional protective layer for first responders who are only wearing PPE suits. This effectively reduces the delay in offering immediate treatment to patients due to the need to wear additional protective layers.
As Dr Tan Chee Keat, NTFGH’s Head and Senior Consultant of Intensive Care Medicine mentioned in a previous press conference, healthcare workers are made to wear a powered air-purifying respirator before intubating patients. However, it takes 5-10 minutes to put on the respirator, putting off immediate treatment to patients. The BCU then allows first responders to perform immediate resuscitation before other members of the team put on the respirators to follow-up with aerosol-generating procedures.
The BCU is made of transparent acrylic that measures 50cm in length, 68cm in width and 60cm in height, acting as a shell-like protective layer above the patients shoulders and head. Two openings on the top of the BCU allow for access for medical procedures.
Source: Lianhe Zaobao © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.