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. 2020 Jul;35(7S):S23-S27.
doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2020.04.035. Epub 2020 Apr 18.

Helmet Modification to PPE With 3D Printing During the COVID-19 Pandemic at Duke University Medical Center: A Novel Technique

Melissa M Erickson  1 , Eric S Richardson  2 , Nicholas M Hernandez  1 , Dana W Bobbert 2nd  3 , Ken Gall  2 , Paul Fearis  2
Affiliations

Helmet Modification to PPE With 3D Printing During the COVID-19 Pandemic at Duke University Medical Center: A Novel Technique

Melissa M Erickson et al. J Arthroplasty. 2020 Jul.

Abstract

Care for patients during COVID-19 poses challenges that require the protection of staff with recommendations that health care workers wear at minimum, an N95 mask or equivalent while performing an aerosol-generating procedure with a face shield. The United States faces shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), and surgeons who use loupes and headlights have difficulty using these in conjunction with face shields. Most arthroplasty surgeons use surgical helmet systems, but in the current pandemic, many hospitals have delayed elective arthroplasty surgeries and the helmet systems are going unused. As a result, the authors have begun retrofitting these arthroplasty helmets to serve as PPE. The purpose of this article is to outline the conception, design, donning technique, and safety testing of these arthroplasty helmets being repurposed as PPE.

Keywords: 3D printing; COVID-19; personal protective equipment; surgical helmet systems; total joint arthroplasty.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Timeline.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
3D-printed manifold was designed to mate to where the fan cover can be removed from the Flyte helmet.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
First single-port design was created on 3/22/2020.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Two-port design on 3/24/2020.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Angled the ports down to better accommodate the hood on 3/26/2020.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Optimized flow path and sealing area on 3/28/2020.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Moved the ports outward to allow for the rectangular Pall BB50T filter on 4/2/2020.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Removal of fan cover.
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
A 3 mm silicone piece is fit to the manifold and helmet.
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
Breathing circuit filters are attached to the manifold, secured, anesthesia tubing is attached.
Fig. 11
Fig. 11
Locating the exposed seam side to create the seal.
Fig. 12
Fig. 12
Tubing should be pulled out of the gown to ensure that unobstructed room air is brought into the filtering system.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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