COVID-19 Production of Oxygen Therapy Component

Project Overview

A makeshift adapter device for a BiPAP conversion idea was created to connect a readily available filter to the exhalation port in order to prevent virus particles from being blown out into the room at the caregivers. However, the adapter required components taken from two separate sterilized kits, and the remaining valuable kit components would be discarded.

To alleviate this, and to reduce the number of seams in the assembly, this project aims to fabricate hundreds of couplers that have similar airflow restrictions of the makeshift adapter and are also disposable. These couplers are fabricated through CNC turning of Delrin, and thanks to Techsburg in Christiansburg, 200 have already been delivered to Carilion for infection safety and regulatory review before production and public use.

The resultant face shield design can be found on the NIH 3D Print Exchange.

Research Lead

• Chris Williams, Professor, Mechanical Engineering (cbwill@vt.edu)
• Genevieve Gural, Graduate Student in Dr. Williams' DREAMS Lab