Fighting the Droplets | COVID 19

The world is at war with Corona. More than 4 million people across the globe have been infected within 4 months of the pandemic. The virus is unfamiliar with our immune system and we are months away from having a vaccination. Our efforts are directed towards breaking the chain, slowing the spread and flattening the curve. Social distancing, staying at home, working from home, emphasis on increasing our immunity, taking extra care of the elderly is the new norm for survival.

This virus transmits from one person to the other through respiratory droplets of an infected person. It takes the route of eyes, nose and mouth to enter into the other person. Even an asymptomatic person could also be a carrier and end up spreading the infection.

Frontline warriors everywhere are showcasing their commitment to safeguard humanity. Healthcare givers are in the pursuit to drive away the virus and save lives, governance is bringing in strategies to battle the unprecedented situation, police force is ensuring that people stay at home and containment is executed, media personal are reporting from the ground. Grocery shop workers, delivery guys, security guards, sanitisation workers and everyone out there on the frontline are doing their best to ease out our lives and keep us safe. 

Scarcity of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) kits is forcing these warriors to fight unprotected. The current global supply of body coverall, goggles, masks, gloves, head cover, shoe cover and face shields is not sufficient to meet the demand in this crisis. This shortage demands that PPEs are being used rationally. Depending upon the kind of work being executed and exposure to people, type of PPE used by COVID 19 frontline workers may vary. These factors should be taken into consideration in the supply and distribution of PPEs. Doctors, nurses or any healthcare professional involved at the frontline, right from swabbing for testing to caregiving are the ones who are most vulnerable and need entire set of PPEs the most.  

Wearing masks when stepping out has been declared as a mandate in several countries. It is considered that this might help slow down the spread of the virus. Amidst the scarcity, people are encouraged to use homemade masks. Eyes, nose and mouth are considered to be the major entry points for the corona virus. Covering mouth and nose with a mask, still leaves eyes at risk. Face Shield addresses this problem. This PPE acts as a guard against splash by covering a greater surface area of the face. It provides an extra layer of protection for the entire face, prevents the face mask from direct exposure, prevents individuals from touching their face. 

In these unprecedented times serving without having access to PPEs is making it even more difficult for our frontline fighters. It is interesting to see how makers across the globe; from individuals to startups to large companies have jumped into filling this gap. Here is a glimpse into their effort to contibute:

Mahindra & Mahindra got the design from Ford. During the lockdown, procurement was a challenge. The daughter of Chief of Manufacturing Operations at Mahindra Automotive Division, convinced a local stationary shop owner to arrange for transparent sheets. She carried him on her scooter to procure 100 PET sheets and handed them to Mahindra professionals. Sample models of Face Shield were made and were approved by health centres. Along with the sheets, foam, elastic band and double sided tape were used to make the shield. Suppliers for final production were approached. Mahindra converted one of their executive canteens into Face Shield manufacturing facility. This activity is being executed under their CSR initiative.

Apple, the tech giant, brought together a team of product designers, engineers, and suppliers to make face shields. The product is made of plastic forehead band, an elastic strap and a clear plastic visor. Raw material as well as manufacturing was sourced in the US and China. First set of product was delivered to hospitals in Santa Clara valley. The design and assembly instruction has been made public.

Nike, in these times intended to use materials readily available with them and that the product should be made at their own manufacturing facilities. The face shield developed by them has components that they usually use in their footwear and apparel; collar padding that was being used in shoes and cords that was to be used in apparels. The prototypes were tested and validated by Oregon Health & Science University. (Picture Credit: OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Makers are using 3d printing to supply Face Shields as much as in their capacity. Industries across the globe are coming forward to extend their support to fight the pandemic. 

At Morphedo, we observed the immediate need for Face Shields to support our frontliners. We 3d printed the initial sample units, supplied them to hospitals and doctors for its validation. We incorporated the suggestions and developed an industrial design which can be quickly used for manufacturing an injection moulding tool for mass production. Today, we have a capacity to manufacture 5000 units of High-Quality Face Shields a day and supplying to 10+ cities in India.

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Life after lockdown and until we have a vaccine, PPEs will play a significant role in the prevention of COVID19. Together we will be able to overcome it.