Coronavirus Technology Solutions

June 15, 2020

Eaton Pursuing Face Shield Supply - First with 3D Printing and Later Injection Molding

Eaton Touchless Tool Reduces Virus Spread

Eaton Provides Power Equipment for Expanded Triage Capability

Eaton Provides Power Equipment to New Hospitals in Wuhan
N95 Masks will Remove Coronavirus Particles

Parker Hannifin Offers Range of Filters for HVAC
Parker Hannifin has Multiple Media for Face Masks

IDEX Provides Dosing Pumps, Clamps, Degassers and Other Products to Hospitals

Masks are More Important Than Social Distancing Because of Airborne Aerosols

Chinese Melt Blown and Mask Capacity Reduced as Low Quality Producers Eliminated

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Eaton Pursuing Face Shield Supply - First with 3D Printing and Later Injection Molding

Additive manufacturing opens up new opportunities to combine novel materials, designs and process innovations at a much faster pace than traditional manufacturing. It enables engineers with quick and cost-effective design iterations to dramatically reduce development time. And now more than ever, time is of the essence.

Eaton says :”What matters most is the ability of the healthcare system to respond to the crisis at hand. We’re leveraging our expertise in additive manufacturing to deliver real-time solutions. 

For example, we’re designing and 3D printing medical supplies to meet the needs of our customers and the world. By working closely with healthcare providers, we’ve developed face shields that can be sanitized and reused for a period of time. We’re donating initial supplies to hospitals in Cleveland, New York City and beyond. 

We’re also pursuing options to transition the production of face shields to more traditional manufacturing methods because the current demand for these critical assets far exceeds the supply available from 3D printing. We’re looking at injection molding processes in collaboration with a variety of manufacturing facilities to help provide protection for front-line healthcare workers.

 

Eaton Touchless Tool Reduces Virus Spread

Hospitals need immediate access to tools that help reduce the potential for front line healthcare providers to be exposed to the new virus.  Power management company Eaton activated its additive manufacturing expertise to rapidly develop a touchless tool that helps medical workers avoid contact with surfaces and slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. University Hospitals in Northeast Ohio collaborated on the design and development of the new Eaton tool. 

“The entire community here is indebted to innovative organizations like Eaton, who are flexing their technological muscles and making a difference in these challenging times,” said Brian Rothstein, MD, pediatric neurosurgeon at University Hospitals. 

A recent study indicates that one of the best defenses of healthcare workers is through barrier protection from surfaces that become contaminated (Journal of the American Medical Association, March 2020). Eaton’s four-inch touchless tool resembles a plastic wrench and is intended to help medical workers grab door handles, turn faucets and push buttons on phones and other devices without touching surfaces. 

“We’re looking for ways that we can apply our design engineering and manufacturing expertise to help address the critical needs in the healthcare industry, and our teams are making it happen,” said Michael Regelski, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Electrical Sector at Eaton. “As this tool and our face shields demonstrate, we’re able to use our additive manufacturing, or 3D printing capabilities, along with a healthy dose of innovation to compress product development timelines and rapidly deliver solutions for healthcare workers on the front line.”

Eaton provided the first batch of touchless tools to University Hospitals, where doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and other healthcare workers are using the device. The tool enables University Hospitals to help address concerns associated with contracting the new coronavirus from contaminated surfaces and reduces the number of times healthcare workers need to change protective equipment. 

“To help fill critical needs of our healthcare workers during this crisis, we moved from concept to production in a few short days,” said Srinivas Garimella, global head of the Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence at Eaton. “This kind of speed and adaptability reaffirms the power of additive manufacturing, and I am proud of our teams across the company who stepped up to help local communities.”

 

Eaton Provides Power Equipment for Expanded Triage Capability

While the world continues to react to the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare providers are working with their local communities to expand treatment capacity and provide exceptional care for all patients. Power management company Eaton answered the call when Southside Hospital in Bay Shore on Long Island – part of Northwell Health, New York’s largest healthcare provider – recently extended its triage capabilities with an emergency hospital tent and called upon a local partner to provide the critical equipment needed to keep the facility up and running. The low-voltage power distribution solutions provided by Eaton will help enable reliable, always-on power for the continuous delivery of patient care in the temporary emergency facility.

“The rapid completion of our Southside Hospital facility expansion would not have been possible without Eaton and our local partners coming together on short notice to deliver essential equipment,” said Kurt Jahrsdoerfer, Director of Engineering, Northwell Health.

“The collaboration between our partners and others in our community will help bring essential care to patients during this pandemic,” said Steven McCormack, Manager of Plant Operations, Northwell Health.

Electrical distributor WESCO International received an urgent call from local electrical contractor Gordon L. Seaman, Inc. for two switchboards to distribute critical power to the triage tent facility being constructed at Southside Hospital. WESCO contacted the Eaton satellite in Westhampton, New Jersey, knowing that electrical solutions of that size and complexity could be built quickly by the satellite plant. Time was of the essence, so Eaton quickly activated a network of sites across Baltimore; Denver; El Paso, Texas; and Sumter, South Carolina, to coordinate materials and accelerate production. Ultimately, the New Jersey satellite was able to deliver switchboards on site in one week, a fraction of the standard turnaround time for such complex equipment.

“When you’re in a situation like this and working amid a global pandemic, you need a partner you can really trust,” said Donald Schug, senior sales representative, WESCO International. “Eaton’s proven record of delivering above and beyond expectations as well as their presence in the local community gave me the confidence that they would deliver what I needed at the speed this project required, and that’s exactly what they did.”

With the Eaton switchboards providing continuous power for the triage tents, hospital staff can diagnose and treat non-COVID patients while maximizing the main facility’s ability to treat COVID patients.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is driving close collaboration between healthcare providers and their communities to ensure all patients receive the care they need,” said Justin Carron, global healthcare segment manager, Eaton. “I’m proud of the fast action and coordination our team and partners exhibited that enabled the delivery of essential switchboard technology to the team at Southside Hospital. As this pandemic continues, we remain committed to working with partners in these communities to solve challenges and deliver electrical solutions that meet their needs for safe, reliable power.

 

Eaton Provides Power Equipment to New Hospitals in Wuhan

 

China completed construction of two new field hospitals in Wuhan in just ten days. Power management company Eaton and its partner electrical contractors and distributors were part of the construction project at the new Huoshenshan and Leishenshan Hospitals that delivered an additional 2,500 hospital beds to the front line of this global health emergency. Eaton solutions are powering the hospitals, enabling medical teams to diagnose, treat and monitor more patients. 

“Working in the field complicates access to a steady and reliable power supply, which can be a matter of life and death when critical medical equipment is involved,” said Howard Liu, president of Eaton’s Electrical Sector – Asia-Pacific region. “Eaton is committed to providing high-performance solutions to everyday heroes on the frontlines – on typical days and in moments of crisis.” 

The highly complicated effort to design, build and construct two hospitals in short order required consistent quality power. Eaton mobilized its emergency response teams in China to help.

An urgent request came to Eaton from the regional utility, Wuhan Power Supply Bureau. Both Huoshenshan and Leishenshan Hospitals needed help connecting to utility power. In a matter of days, Eaton and its partner helped connect the main power supply at both hospitals and provided the medium-voltage cable accessories supporting intelligent and reliable power distribution. 

Eaton and its local partner, Wuhan Chaote Network Technology Co., Ltd, worked overnight to install, deploy and start up power at the Huoshenshan Hospital. Eaton also provided three units of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and 112 sets of batteries. This equipment is enabling healthcare digitalization, the equipment analyzing blood tests and monitoring patients, as well as supporting emergency backup. 

Inside of 24 hours’ notice, Eaton delivered the circuit protection supporting critical CT equipment onsite at the Huoshenshan Hospital. This diagnostic equipment is critical to rapid response and treatment of symptoms. Eaton power management solutions are protecting these sophisticated diagnostic imaging machines from downtime and enabling reliable, efficient power.

 

N95 Masks will Remove Coronavirus Particles

A good comparison of masks was updated June 2 and is linked below. It confirms that respirators with high efficiency at 0.3 micron particle size (N95/FFP2 or better) can in theory filter particles down to the size of the coronavirus (which is around 0.1 microns). What that doesn’t tell us is how much protection respirators will provide against coronavirus when in use – we will need to wait for future studies to confirm.

A recent paper shows that the coronavirus ranges from between 0.06 and 0.14 microns in size. Note that the paper refers to the coronavirus particle as 2019-nCoV, which was its old name. The virus is currently called SARS-CoV-2, and the illness it presents in people is called Covid-19.

Respirators are measured by their efficiency at filtering particles of 0.3 microns and bigger (noting that the coronavirus is smaller than that).

The reason for the focus on 0.3 microns is because it is the “most penetrating particle size” (MPPS). Particles above this size move in ways we might anticipate and will get trapped in a filter with gaps smaller than the particle size. Particles smaller than 0.3 microns exhibit what’s called Brownian motion – which makes them easier to filter. Brownian motion refers to a phenomenon whereby the particle’s mass is small enough that it no longer travels unimpeded through the air. Instead it interacts with the molecules in the air (nitrogen, oxygen, etc.), causing it to pinball between them, moving in an erratic pattern.

According to researchers this point between “normal” motion and Brownian motion is the hardest particle size for filters to capture.

What we can take away from this, is that high filter efficiency at 0.3 micron size will generally translate to high filter efficiency below this size also.

https://fastlifehacks.com/n95-vs-ffp/

 

Parker Hannifin Offers Range of Filters for HVAC

For today’s HVAC applications where air cleanliness is critical, Parker offers an extensive line of High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) and Ultra-Low Particulate Air (ULPA) filters designed to trap microscopic airborne particles and contaminants from an air stream to produce a safe environment and prevent cross-contamination of manufacturing processes. Parker says its filter solutions outperform similar products on the market and are an effective way to reduce energy use and support sustainability efforts. 

While the  Sub-HEPA, HEPA, and ULPA filters serve the same function, they vary by efficiency and performance. The distinction between the filter types can be unclear given the range of testing methods. HEPA filters have a minimum efficiency of 99.97% at 0.3 microns, whereas ULPA filters have an efficiency rating of 99.999% at 0.12 microns or higher. This does not mean that ULPA filters are better than HEPA filters when taking air flow and other variables into account. In fact, HEPA filters cost less and have a lower resistance to air flow and have a longer service life than ULPA filters. Efficiency selection will be to meet the needs of the user and application, as specific conditions and operation may demand either HEPA or ULPA.

 

Parker HVAC Filtration’s two new energy-saving filter products, the Parker LoadTECH 4 in and 12 in filters are both MERV 14-rated for high efficiency and feature gold synthetic media with a design which captures dust at a higher capacity than similar models.

The advanced filter systems use Parker’s E-pleat technology, which moulds filtration media into a series of pre-formed channels that direct the air smoothly through the filter, allowing for even loading, minimum resistance, and complete media utilization. The advanced media used in the filters also resists tearing, damage, moisture, and microbial growth.

 

Parker Hannifin has Multiple Media for Face Masks

The company supplied media normally used in air filters to Indiana Filter to donate to local prisons who experienced high rates of COVID the specifics were

Parker Hannifin acquired Clarcor’s some years ago. Clarcor in turn had previously purchased a supplier of face mask media and face masks. So the company does have multiple ways to participate in the face mask market.

 

IDEX Provides Dosing Pumps, Clamps, Degassers and Other Products to Hospitals

As the magnitude of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Wuhan, China became clear, the Chinese government mobilized its resources and set out to build two new hospitals in less than two weeks. To help make it happen Chinese government suppliers reached out to IDEX China for several mission-critical components.

Even though businesses were already closed for the Lunar New Year holiday and many employees had begun traveling to visit family for the holiday break, the great teams of IDEX assembled and shipped a variety of orders for coronavirus response.

The IDEX efforts have included:

 

Masks are More Important Than Social Distancing Because of Airborne Aerosols

As states reopen amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, many are documenting still-rising levels of new cases. This is partly, or largely, due to bad pandemic-time behavior—that is, not wearing masks and not social-distancing. Even in New York, which has done so well in reducing its numbers, people are getting weary and a little sloppy with protections. A new study out in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that among all the strategies for reducing transmission, wearing face masks may be the central variable that determines the spread of the virus.

“Our analysis reveals that the difference with and without mandated face covering represents the determinant in shaping the trends of the pandemic,” the team, from Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin, California Institute of Technology, and the University of California San Diego, write in their new paper.

They analyzed the various mitigation measures put in place in the three major centers of the outbreak—Wuhan, Italy, and New York City—from January 23 to May 9, 2020. The team also looked at the slopes of the curves representing the number of new cases, and how they changed after each measure was mandated.

For instance, in NYC, the stay-at-home and social distancing orders didn’t do a lot: the curve really started to change after masks were mandatory. (See the figure below.) Compare that to the U.S. overall, which never put in place a face-covering policy.

 

New cases in NYC vs US with timeline of prevention mandates

Daily new confirmed infections in (A) NYC and (B) the United States. The dotted lines represent ... [+]

 ZHANG ET AL 2020, COURTESY PNAS

And in Wuhan, the response was not only swift, but multiple measures—namely, social distancing, lockdown, and face coverings—were put in place simultaneously. In the U.S., it was slower, and importantly, sequential, making it much less effective. “[T]he response to the pandemic was generally slow in the western world, and implementation of the intervention measures occurred only consecutively,” the authors write. “Clearly, the responsiveness of the mitigation measures governed the evolution, scope, and magnitude of the pandemic globally.”

The team also looked at how the virus, in droplets and aerosols, travels in the air; how fast it travels; the weather conditions in the respective geographic locations; the “dose” and effectiveness of how it infects the respiratory system; and other variables. "Our results clearly show that airborne transmission via respiratory aerosols represents the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19," said study author Renyi Zhang in a statement.

When paired with the data on how the curve changed in response to the mitigation methods, this all makes sense—the takeaway being that face masks are likely the major determinant of how the infection spreads or slows.

"Our study establishes very clearly that using a face mask is not only useful to prevent infected coughing droplets from reaching uninfected persons but is also crucial for these uninfected persons to avoid breathing the minute atmospheric particles (aerosols) that infected people emit when talking and that can remain in the atmosphere tens of minutes and can travel tens of feet," said study author Mario Molina in a statement.

Indeed, a study last month in the same journal showed that just talking loudly in a room released droplets that lingered in the air for eight to 14 minutes. The new study also echoes the update made by the CDC recently, stating that while transmission by infected surfaces (e.g., touching a doorknob that a sick person coughed on) was possible, it’s not the main route of infection—air is.

Interestingly, the team also calculated how many people were likely spared from infection by wearing face coverings. "By analyzing the pandemic trends without face-covering using the statistical method and by projecting the trend, we calculated that over 66,000 infections were prevented by using a face mask in little over a month in New York City,” said Zhang. In Italy the number was 78,000. “We conclude that wearing a face mask in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent inter-human transmission. This inexpensive practice, in conjunction with social distancing and other procedures, is the most likely opportunity to stop the COVID-19 pandemic."

As states continue to reopen and many see steady rises in infection rates, they should heed the message in the findings of studies like this one.

Finally, the researchers make the important point that science must be the foundation upon which pandemic policy is based. It’s unfortunate that we live in a time where this point has to be made, and repeated, but here we are. They write that “sound science should be effectively communicated to policy makers and should constitute the prime foundation in decision-making amid this pandemic. Implementing policies without a scientific basis could lead to catastrophic consequences, particularly in light of attempts to reopen the economy in many countries.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2020/06/13/face-masks-may-be-the-key-determinant-of-the-covid-19-curve-study-suggests/#753471dd6497

 

Chinese Melt Blown and Mask Capacity Reduced as Low Quality Producers Eliminated

In the first five months of the year, 70,802 new companies registered to make or trade face masks in China, a 1,256 per cent rise from a year earlier.

Meanwhile, 7,296 new companies registered to make or trade 

meltblown fabric, the vital component, an increase of 2,277 percent from a year earlier, according to Tianyancha, a company registration information website.

But the frenzy started to cool a little in May, with the number of new registrations for masks and meltblown dropping by 70.84 percent and 57.6 percent respectively from April’s peak.

In May, exports of medical equipment and supplies rose 89 per cent from a year earlier, with new pockets of demand popping up as the virus raged elsewhere in the world, even as many European and Asian nations appeared to have things under control.

The situation has changed substantially in the last month. Many speculative manufacturers

have been forced to quit the industry due to changing export rules, tighter licensing requirements and weaker demand for inferior quality products.

Industry sources said that the bulk of the bumper overseas shipments are now going to established mask-making companies, with opportunities drying up for those fly-by-night operators who were looking to turn a quick buck.

Huang Wensheng is the general manger of Shandong Jofo Nonwoven, and has been making meltblown and nonwoven fabrics in his eastern Chinese factory for more than a decade.

Huang said about half of the mask factories in his area have closed down, mainly those that sprang up after the virus was brought under control in China, but which he said delivered low quality products.

He blamed falling overseas demand for inferior masks for the closures, but also Beijing’s crackdown on the export of non-licensed supplies amid staunch criticism from governments around the world. Huang added that for established manufacturers, business is still “quite good”.

“At the beginning of the outbreak, people would buy whatever masks were available, but as the situation improved and fewer people are wearing masks now, people have more choice, these unqualified manufacturers are of course being knocked out [of the market],” Huang said.

Chinese customs authorities imposed more rigorous checks on mask exports to ensure quality control, as the world’s largest manufacturer faced complaints from some overseas governments and hospitals over shoddy medical supplies.

At the height of China’s mask-making mania, the little-known city of Yangzhong became known as “the home of meltblown”, with almost 1,000 new firms registering to make or trade the fabric in the city of just 340,000, as of April 10, according to local government statistics.

But now, hundreds of meltblown mills have closed, with the local sector’s exodus – from component sellers, to raw material providers, to even the technicians who helped to debug the machines – just as dramatic as the mad rush to enter earlier in the year.

For the best quality output suppliers could charge up to 400,000 yuan per tonne, but for the lower-end offcuts, just 1,000 yuan. On April 15, the Yangzhong government cracked down on the chaotic meltblown market, banning 867 companies from producing the fabric.