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Early-stage innovation report
Modified full-face snorkel mask: answer to the PPE crisis?
  1. Harshul D Measuria,
  2. Yash V Verma,
  3. Ryan Kerstein,
  4. Sarah Tucker
  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
  1. Correspondence to Harshul D Measuria, Department of Plastic Surgery, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; harshulmeasuria{at}doctors.org.uk

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjinnov-2020-000468

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    Summary box

    What are the new findings?

    • A commercially available full-face snorkel mask can be modified to create a variety of respiratory assisting devices.

    • Combining a connector piece and a heat and moisture exchange filter to a full-face snorkel mask can create a reusable piece of respiratory and eye protecting personal protective equipment (PPE).

    • Challenges to overcome using this system include carbon dioxide clearance, satisfactory fit and certification testing.

    • Additional challenges such as cleaning regimes and unfiltered exhaled air still need to be tackled.

    How might it impact on healthcare in the future?

    • In an emergency crisis situation, however, this adaptation could prove to be an easily accessible solution for all to have level 2 PPE made available at low cost and rapid production.

    Introduction

    The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE) preparations and supply across the UK. In an emergency, we have all had to adapt to new living and working conditions. As the government moves to relax the lockdown1 and recommend the use of masks to be worn by the general public, supply problems are likely to continue, hindering the health service. Of particular concern will be the need for adequate protection to allow clinicians to be comfortable in the PPE they are wearing.

    There is a definite shortage in supply and clinicians are understandably concerned about this. Two surveys undertaken by the Royal College of Surgeons of 2000 of their members highlighted that over a third of surgeons felt that their Trust did not have adequate PPE, particularly FFP3 masks and full-face visors. Over a quarter of surgeons were not confident that the supplied PPE had been adequately fit tested, with several hospitals around the country removing fit testing altogether instead adopting the fit check …

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    Footnotes

    • HDM and YVV are joint first authors.

    • Contributors HDM and YVV carried out the project and wrote the original article. RK was also involved in conducting the project and acted as editor for the article. ST came up with the original idea of the project, brought together the team and conducted the project.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests A team of authors in Oxford are attempting to pursue a similar adaptation to help with the aforementioned personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages. They have been performing the necessary fit testing and have submitted an option to an independent notification body for the necessary extensive testing in order to be certified as PPE and cleared for safe clinical use. The authors do not recommend its use prior to getting said certifications and write this correspondence purely for informative purposes.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.