To assist firefighters and other first responders to use their existing equipment for respiration during the COVID-19 pandemic without using single-use, low-supply, masks, this study outlines an open source kit to convert a 3M-manufactured Scott Safety self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) into a powered air-purifying particulate respirator (PAPR). The open source PAPR can be fabricated with a low-cost 3-D printer and widely available components for less than $150, replacing commercial conversion kits saving 85% or full-fledged proprietary PAPRs saving over 90%. The parametric designs allow for adaptation to other core components and can be custom fit specifically to fire-fighter equipment, including their suspenders. The open source PAPR has controllable air flow and its design enables breathing even if the fan is disconnected or if the battery dies. The open source PAPR was tested for air flow as a function of battery life and was found to meet NIOSH air flow requirements for 4 hours, which is 300% over expected regular use.
- Source code: https://osf.io/ydfmc/
Keywords[edit | edit source]
open hardware, COVID-19, medical hardware, Powered Air-Purifying Respirator, PAPR, RepRap, 3-D printing, additive manufacturing, personal protective equipment, safety equipment
See also[edit | edit source]
- A review of open source ventilators for COVID-19 and future pandemics
- Open-Source Medical Hardware for Pandemics
- Parametric Nasopharyngeal Swab for Sampling COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Viruses: Open Source Design, SLA 3-D Printing and UV Curing System
- Maximizing Returns for Public Funding of Medical Research with Open-source Hardware
- Economic Potential for Distributed Manufacturing of Adaptive Aids for Arthritis Patients in the U.S.
- 3-D printing open-source click-MUAC bands for identification of malnutrition
- Emergence of Home Manufacturing in the Developed World: Return on Investment for Open-Source 3-D Printers
- Life-cycle economic analysis of distributed manufacturing with open-source 3-D printers
- Distributed Manufacturing of Flexible Products- Technical Feasibility and Economic Viability
- Quantifying the Value of Open Source Hardware Development
- Low-cost open source ultrasound-sensing based navigational support for visually impaired
- Open-Source Three-Dimensional Printable Infant Clubfoot Brace
- Additively Manufactured Parametric Universal Clip-System: An Open Source Approach for Aiding Personal Exposure Measurement in the Breathing Zone
See also COVID-19 resources from MOST[edit | edit source]
- 2020 Michigan Tech Open Sustainability Technology Group COVID19 Projects & Publications
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