The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has rapidly reacted to a demand for protective visors for healthcare staff in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Following the ongoing success with the Intubation Shield for NHS workers, the MTC has now prototyped and developed a face visor that utilizes laser cutting technology, which is available as a free open source download.
With a recent peak in Coronavirus cases, the safety of healthcare professionals has never been so important, and personal protective equipment (PPE) plays a vital role. The MTC has been working hard to design, concept, prototype, and test the laser cut protective visors with the aim to protect the eyes and face of healthcare workers. A technical specification for the visors has also been created as a result of the research.
Starting with an initial open-source concept created by Nottingham Hackspace, the design was modified to meet user-specific requirements and reduce the typical time it would take to manufacture. Using the MTC's state-of-the-art facility and the latest manufacturing technologies, the visor has been laser cut to ensure safety and comfortability and is built using a polypropylene frame and a clear plastic screen. The visor is suitably designed for quick hand-assembly, with build instructions provided within the technical pack.
Preliminary trials at Leicester Royal Infirmary have proven to be successful and hailed positive feedback, launching the MTC into the production of the first 2,000 units for hospitals around the UK. Supply chains and manufacturers are welcomed to continue the production of the visors using the open-source technical packs and documentation available for free download.
You can download the free prototyped and developed a face visor by clicking here.