20.04.20
University produces protective face shields for frontline medics
The University of Sunderland has designed protective face shields for healthcare professionals working on the frontline during the coronavirus outbreak.
The visors were designed and developed by experts from the University’s Institute for Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP) with input from intensive care unit clinicians.
The protective visors, which were evaluated and trialled by medical experts prior to being given the go-ahead, will be supplied to frontline workers at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI).
Roger O’Brien, Director at AMAP, said:
“We had a rota of staff working at the University's Industry Centre from 7am until midnight over Easter weekend to produce and assemble the visors to meet the demand.
“In addition to our own efforts, where we have 12 printers running around the clock, there are various manufacturing partners of all sizes of organisation, from small companies to large, who are helping us by 3D-printing our frame design, which we then collect from them to process.
“AMAP then quality controls what is produced, sterilises it and then assembles the finished product, adding the visors, forehead protection and retaining straps, all of which have also been sterilised via our processes agreed with the clinicians.
“These are then packed into sterile packaging for delivery, so they can be used immediately upon receipt.”
The ICU-suitable protective face shields designed and developed by the University of Sunderland's Institute for Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP) team
The team at the University supplied more than 200 visors over the Easter weekend, and are maintaining 3D printing production whilst adhering to strict sterilisation procedures for ICU requirements.
With demand for protective face shields growing not just in hospitals, but GP surgeries, prisons and care homes around the North East, as well as from the charity Age UK, the team at AMAP have been looking to further bolster production.
They are currently working with a local manufacturing company to invest in an injection mould tool to scale up operations from around 100 shields being made per day to thousands.
Main Image: Roger O’Brien, Director of the University of Sunderland’s Institute for Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP)