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Introduction

GUIDE IS WORK IN PROGRESS!!!!

The COVID-19 pandemic has created severe shortages of protective airway equipment. Providers are forced to forego adequate personal protection due to dwindling supply PAPR, CAPR, and N95 mask supply. Masks that should be single use are being ad-hoc sterilized and reused.

It is for this emergent need, that I am releasing this buildable protective respirator design. Although this is not an FDA approved product, I am making this available as a physician anesthesiologist doing his "good samaritan" duty. I have applied my 30 years of medical experience and design skills to create and test this design. Although I believe the physics to be sound, but use of this Halo respirator is at your sole discretion and risk.

The Bunny Science Halo is intended to achieve protection by keeping the users entire head in a positive pressure, clean gas environment. It is easily buildable. Equally important in these times of scarcity, its disposables are easily obtained.

  1. The Halo can be configured for three types of virus-free air. Oxygen / Compressed breathable air via small diameter O2 tubing is simplest option. Flow should be 10L/min. Filtered PAPR uses anesthesia viral filter and fan to provide clean air. 12 volt battery pack or AC adapter provides power.
    • The Halo can be configured for three types of virus-free air.

    • Oxygen / Compressed breathable air via small diameter O2 tubing is simplest option. Flow should be 10L/min.

    • Filtered PAPR uses anesthesia viral filter and fan to provide clean air. 12 volt battery pack or AC adapter provides power.

    • External Air via 22 mm connectors for connection of an external fan driven, filtered air source such as a Bair Hugger.

  2. Positive pressure, filtered or medically clean gas inflow maintains isolation just as in a conventional PAPR
    • Positive pressure, filtered or medically clean gas inflow maintains isolation just as in a conventional PAPR

    • Plastic bag completely encloses head

    • Comfortable, yet effective seal around neck with personal utility strap.

    • Expiration is via one way valved ports. System is kept under positive pressure. In actual usage, the valves rarely actually need to close.

    • Warning: Do not seal bag unless fresh gas inflow and expiratory ports are present.

  3. Bag needs to be large enough and well sealed. Many readily available bags are usable. Adequate seal and gas flow are readily readily monitored by bag's positive pressure inflation. View window is easily added to any bag using packing tape and a piece of transparent plastic sheeting like laser print film or even mask visors.
    • Bag needs to be large enough and well sealed. Many readily available bags are usable.

    • Adequate seal and gas flow are readily readily monitored by bag's positive pressure inflation.

    • View window is easily added to any bag using packing tape and a piece of transparent plastic sheeting like laser print film or even mask visors.

  4. Halo flexes to conform to most head sizes. It is the base to which components are mounted to for desired airflow configuration.
    • Halo flexes to conform to most head sizes. It is the base to which components are mounted to for desired airflow configuration.

    • Oxygen line mounting clips

    • Front fan mounting point

    • Rear air connector block mounting point

    • Expiratory ports with 22 mm OD fittings for optional corrugated expiration tubes.

  5. Expiratory flow through the bag is through one way flutter valve. These screw onto the halo to form an airtight, penetration through the bag. Flutter valves are fashioned from a cut-off glove finger rubber banded onto Flutter Valve Penetrator. End of finger is cut to allow air exit, but reverse flow is immediately stopped.
    • Expiratory flow through the bag is through one way flutter valve. These screw onto the halo to form an airtight, penetration through the bag.

    • Flutter valves are fashioned from a cut-off glove finger rubber banded onto Flutter Valve Penetrator. End of finger is cut to allow air exit, but reverse flow is immediately stopped.

    • Halo operates with continuous positive pressure, the flutter valves rarely if ever need to close. Even during inspiration, the bag remains slightly pressurized.

    • Never use flutter valve penetrators without glove tips acting as valves and reverse flow reserve volume.

  6. Simplest Halo configuration is for oxygen or medical air. This configuration uses the fewest consumables and is ideal for brief, aerosolizing procedures such as intubation or airway removal in a fixed location. No viral filter is needed because inflowing gas is clean. A single expiratory valve contralateral to fresh gas flow is suggested. You must also wear a surgical mask because expiration is to room.
    • Simplest Halo configuration is for oxygen or medical air. This configuration uses the fewest consumables and is ideal for brief, aerosolizing procedures such as intubation or airway removal in a fixed location.

    • No viral filter is needed because inflowing gas is clean. A single expiratory valve contralateral to fresh gas flow is suggested. You must also wear a surgical mask because expiration is to room.

    • At 10 L/min flow, CO2 and water vapor clearance is adequate for most users.

    • You may wish to use medical air for prolonged use. Measured FiO2 in Halo is typically > 95%. Usual fire hazard warning for O2!

    • Exceptionally high FiO2 delivery capability may make this configuration useful on a patient.

  7. External Air Connector block attaches to halo via an M3 nut and bolt. A pair of 22 mm penetrators create inspiratory port for incoming, clean air. Surgical mask should also be worn.
    • External Air Connector block attaches to halo via an M3 nut and bolt. A pair of 22 mm penetrators create inspiratory port for incoming, clean air. Surgical mask should also be worn.

    • This configuration was intended to allow connection of an inline fan or Bair hugger with a viral filter and 22 mm tubing adapter.

    • Expiration can be via usual expiratory flutter valve or a 22 mm expiratory tube another penetrator to connector block.

    • In dual tubed configuration, expiratory limb MUST have a check valve at the end distal from user.

  8. A fan draws room air through an anesthesia viral filter to fill the halo bag. Full mobility is possible with a 12 volt battery pack.
    • A fan draws room air through an anesthesia viral filter to fill the halo bag. Full mobility is possible with a 12 volt battery pack.

    • Fan power is limited and measures are needed to enhance airflow volume and routing. TWO expiratory valves are a must. You may need to add short, corrugated tubing to better route airflow and reduce fogging.

    • I have successfully worn this configuration for several hours walking around my hospital and even rounding on patients. You can be mobile, but definitely cannot move fast.

    • A higher power, blower fan is a reasonable upgrade to the design. If sufficient airflow increase, expiratory viral filters could also be added to remove need for surgical mask. However, present configuration with 2 watt fan is insufficient airflow for that.

Guy Kuo

Member since: 6/1/19

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