Doc develops portable sanitisation chamber from old vanity box
29 May 2020 08:14:52
The old vanity box that has been transformed into a portable UV sanitization chamber. (Inset) Dr Vijay Prakash Agrawal.
Principal Correspondent ;
A city doctor has developed a portable UV sanitization chamber from old make up (vanity box). He has also prepared an easy reusable face shield from lamination pouch. The theory of the preparation he sent to the index journal and was selected for publication. Both of these products are being used safely in his hospital. Dr Vijay Prakash Agrawal, Director, Prem Prakash Hospital, Hingna Road and alumnus of NKPSIMS Nagpur and SDUMC, Kolar said, “The message to be communicated to Nagpur people is that above chamber can be made easily at home with available resources. It can be used to sanitize mask, household items, currencies, etc. We have to keep item to be sanitised for 30-45 minutes inside chamber and open the chamber only after switching off the light, as it is harmful for eyes and skin.”
He has given the chamber the name Prem Prakash Portable UV Sanitisation Chamber. Similarly face shield can be made from lamination pouch. The article on these two products was selected as Covid special article in index medical journal to be published next month. The temperature in lamination machine is very high so that the pouch gets disinfected. It can be reused by passing it again through the lamination machine. It is well-known that healthcare workers are frequently exposed to body fluids of patients and get infected. Healthcare workers are continuing to provide services putting their as well as their families’ lives at risk to serve those who are infected from Covid-19. As this pandemic is accelerating, requirements of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) are increasing.
Apart from various needs, PPE shortages has been described as most affected facilities. Face shield is one of the important part of PPE. “We described a simple method to prepare a reusable face shield with lamination pouch. A A-4 size lamination pouch, lamination machine, punch machine and thread or elastic is taken. Lamination pouch is laminated with hot mode on lamination Machine. Initially the pouch is not transparent but after lamination it becomes transparent.
With the help of punch machine, holes are created according to personal view. Thread or elastic can be used to tie this shield. Once use is over, remove thread or elastic (removable) and pass it again through lamination machine in hot mode. Once again the shield is ready for reuse,” explained Dr Agrawal. Lamination pouch can be used as face shield in present times of limited resources. It is easy to prepare as well easy to reuse.