Rapid prototyping and clinical testing of a reusable face shield for health care workers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: Due to supply chain disruption, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care professionals. Local fabrication based on 3D printing is one way to address this challenge, particularly in the case of simple products such as protective face shields. As a consequence, many public domain designs for face shields have become available. No clear path exists, however, for introducing a locally fabricated and unapproved product into a clinical setting. In a US health care setting, face shields are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); similar policies exist in other countries. We describe a research protocol under which rapid iteration on an existing design, coupled with clinical feedback and real-world testing in an emergenc

SUBMITTER: Mostaghimi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7276039 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature