SARS-2-Covid is not an airborne virus, but it has been proven that during aerosol generating procedures, such as intubation and extubation, the virus becomes airborne.
Healthcare staff performing these procedures are at high risk of contracting the virus.
Even with adequate PPE, the viral load transmitted to the face, neck and trunk of healthcare staff makes the process of 'doffing' (safely removing PPE) extremely dangerous.
An aerosol shield box:
* significantly reduces the amount of viral load transmitted to staff
* significantly reduces settling time to the environment
* improves staff safety
* has positive psychological effects on healthcare staff who, by protocol, have to consider all patients positive to COVID19 if not previously tested
* allows operating theatres to be cleaned and turned round more quickly, without compromising safety
Existing aerosol shield boxes that are currently available have a number of ldesign imitations that restrict their use across the healthcare sector.
Through a collaboration between renowned medical specialists and high tech innovators, the Oxford Box aerosol shield has been designed to overcome the identified limitations by:
1\. allowing more access for staff to manoeuvre their arms and equipment within the box
2\. accommodating larger patients
3\. being able to be used on a variety of bed and trolley widths
4\. being lighter
5\. being suitable for thorough cleaning and re-use
6\. being compact, foldable and easy to store
7\. being affordable
As a result of its innovative design the Oxford Box will be a safe, cost effective shield that will continue to be used as a means of barrier protection long after the pandemic has subsided, as the aerosol infection risk will always be present during intubation and extubation.
A proof of concept prototype of the Oxford Box has already been built and tested, and medical approval has been recently granted by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. A proof of concept prototype of a paediatric Oxford Box is currently being tested by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The aim of this project is to finalise the designs of the two Oxford Boxes, which will comply with international as well as UK standards, and then manufacture a pre-production batch for market testing. The project aim to produce a state of the art aerosol shield that is affordable for the NHS trusts, and apply the transition to circular economy commitment to this product.