AMMACHI Lab engineers Ayyappan Ajan and Vishnu Jayan developed an ultra low-cost respiratory protection system for doctors and health workers on the frontlines to honor and help “the true heroes of our time.” “During this situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is the doctors, nurses and healthcare workers who are serving humanity,” says engineer Vishnu Jayan. “Therefore, we looked into ways we could develop a technology that could serve their needs.”

A PAPR (Powered Air-Purifying Respirator) is an air-purifying respirator that uses a blower to pump fresh air through filter cartridges into the breathing zone of the person wearing the unit. This process creates an airflow inside a loose-fitting hood, providing a higher assigned protection factor (APF) than an N95 face mask. A PAPR can be used for protection during healthcare procedures in which hospital staff and doctors are exposed to greater risks of aerosolized pathogens like COVID-19.

Our prototype of a hood-mounted PAPR delivers 4 cu ft/min air into the hood and is lightweight and cost-effective. We are actively working with doctors and pulmonary experts from Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences to further test and refine the prototype so that frontline medical workers who are providing care for COVID-19 patients can be protected. So far the testing done by doctors proved to be very promising and successful and more units will be made in the future. 

“To the doctors, nurses and healthcare workers! You are our heroes!”