Flat-pack personal respirators for developing countries funded through alumni donation
Researchers at the University of Southampton are updating the design of a COVID-19 personal respirator for use around the world following a significant alumni donation.
The PeRSo respirator hood, which was designed by an engineering team working with medical staff, electronics experts and industry partners, provides clean air via a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter.
A donation of more than £168,000 from Dr Alison Steele and Stefan Cross QC, who met at the University in the 1980s, will help build and test further prototypes of the respirator, including a lightweight version for care home staff and other frontline workers, plus a flat-pack, low-cost version for prompt use in developing countries.
The device was first developed into a prototype in March within just a week, and since then has been tested on hospital wards in Southampton and manufactured at scale in less than a month.
The project will now focus on refining the equipment for different sectors, including the investigation of a new lightweight hood with integrated fan and solar panel rechargeable batteries for use in developing countries.