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

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.

Personal protective equipment for surgeons during COVID-19 pandemic: systematic review of availability, usage and rationing

“…These groups have brought industry leaders, scientists and government together in an umbrella collaboration to create innovative solutions to meet the PPE demand, including cutting edge printing hubs. In addition to producing new equipment, novel repurposing of existing theatre equipment has been undertaken, such as adaptation of orthopaedic helmet systems used for elective arthroplasties, where manifolds were 3D‐printed and hoods sewn on to the helmet 114 .…”

Monitoring the BTEX Volatiles during 3D Printing with Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Using Electronic Nose and Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry

“…The ability to produce a component with complex geometry in rapid, cost-effective way lowers the market entry barriers for small companies and start-ups, with applications in e.g., medicine, production of consumer goods, toys, and novelty items [ 4 ]. The general awareness of the usefulness of this technology increased drastically at the onset of the 2020 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, when 3D-printing enthusiasts joined en masse the efforts to increase the availability of personal protection gear and modifications of medical equipment [ 5 , 6 ]. The relative ease of operating a modern 3D printer, together with the availability of 3D-printable content spurs a demand beyond the early adopters.…”

Improvising the surgical helmet system for aerosol-generating procedures in the OR: Surgeon designed 3D printed mould for augmented filtration system

“…The unique design of this design is the anatomical fit over the grid of the existing helmet system and the ease with which filter can be changed. Modifications of helmet system exist, 21 however, the simplicity of our design and cost -effectiveness will enable mass production of the augmented system which can be easily modified to fit helmet systems of other companies. Moreover, since only the N 95 filter needs to be changed periodically, the modification is financially sustainable.…”

“…2e4 However, their use during COVID 19 pandemic 5 is not recommended by the manufacturers and the orthopaedic community. 6,7 While Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation recommended that healthcare workers wear an N 95 mask with a face shield while performing AGP, 8 there are no clear guidelines in orthopaedics on how to augment the protection while performing AGP. Many orthopaedic surgeons tend to rely on the use of powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR) to augment the standard personal protection attire.…”