A new aerosol containment device may help reduce COVID-19 exposure for healthcare personnel

The Public Health Agency of Canada acknowledged recently that COVID-19 is spread through aerosols, putting personnel and patients at higher risk during aerosol generating procedures. Two Edmonton-based companies, MACH32 and Andau Medical have developed an Aerosol Containment Tent (ACT) that creates a negative pressure zone around a patient’s head to reduce exposure. The device is designed to be used during the most high-risk airway procedures such as intubation and ventilation.

Rather than allowing particles to escape into the surrounding environment, the ACT device uses negative pressure and a HEPA filter to contain them. While negative pressure isolation rooms are widely used, the ACT is portable, and provides patient-specific use.

“Clinicians performing high risk aerosol generating procedures are better protected when procedures are performed under negative pressure,” said Sandi Wright, Founder & CEO of Andau Medical. “PPE is not enough, and we need to think beyond face masks to keep our health systems functional and the risk to healthcare personnel and patients as low as possible.”

Source: The Kingston Whig Standard