COVID-19(新冠病毒) is a threat to the very people fighting it-nurses, doctors, and other first responders, who are exposed to infected patients. Now, a team has developed two devices(设备) that could reduce their risks by sucking away infectious bacteria: a helmet to be worn by a patient,and a small tent in which a patient could be protected. The inventors hope they'll reduce the deaths among healthcare workers.
Negative-pressure rooms have been used in hospitals since the 1980s to keep airborne bacteria from spreading. But Nathan Haas says such rooms cost about$12,000. He and his colleagues wanted to develop a cheaper way to create a negative pressure environment for patients. The new devices could lower the need for negative-pressure rooms,which are rare in many parts of the world,according to Haas.
The helmet can be used when staff transport patients and the tent can protect the upper body of a bed-bound patient wearing a mask, allowing staff to perform several procedures.
“They represent a really simple solution to potentially helping reduce virus spread and increase the safety of healthcare workers, as well as patient safety,” says Ben Bassin.
When the researchers tested their devices with a healthy volunteer, they saw 97% to 99%fewer bacteria outside the devices than inside. They also tested the devices' ease of use and comfort with seven COVID-19 patients.The response from patients and staff was good, Bassin says.
But Reuben Strayer notes the tests did not prove that these devices work to protect medical staff in real-life situations. He says he wants to see independent effect, “to see if they perform as they are advertised.”
