Johns Hopkins Team Designs Improved Ebola Suit, Receives Federal Funding
By Chuck Seegert, Ph.D.
Caregivers that work with Ebola patients run many risks, which prompted a multi-disciplinary Johns Hopkins team to develop an improved protective suit design. After it was designed, the suit was entered in a federal contest geared toward developing new tools to fight the disease.
As the Ebola outbreak gained momentum, the rate of infection in caregivers increased at an alarming rate. This is a scenario of significant concern in public health, because the loss of experienced personnel decreases the ability to continue fighting the spread of disease. Without experts at the front, the disease could potentially rage unchecked, spreading even faster.
To address these concerns, a Johns Hopkins team designed a prototype protective suit that does a better job than currently available equipment, according to a recent Johns Hopkins University (JHU) press release. The designers focused on protecting wearers while they are treating patients, and while the caregiver is removing the suit. Protection as a caregiver tends to patients is important, but making the protective gear easy to discard is also critical in preventing the transmission of disease.
With that in mind, the team developed a cocoon-style design that facilitates the disrobing process, which takes fewer steps and is assisted by a rear zipper.
In addition to the features that improve disease protection, the suit is also designed to help a caregiver stay cool, according to the press release. This is an important feature in higher temperature climates like West Africa, and is based on a small dry air source that uses batteries to blow air into the hood of the garment. While effective in this application, the cooling technology was originally developed by Johns Hopkins cardiologist Harikrishna Tandri to cool cardiac arrest patients.
The design is being developed by a team of engineers, with assistance from medical experts, students, and other volunteers, according to the press release. The team is under the supervision of Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design. Other participants include Jhpiego, an affiliated non-profit organization focused on programs in international health, and Clinvue, an innovation consulting agency.
A multi-disciplinary team first developed the concept for the advanced Ebola suit in a weekend long brainstorm session, according to a recent story from JHU’s Hub. The 65-member team included representatives from Johns Hopkins medical institutions, the schools of Public Health and Engineering, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and even architects, robotics experts, members of the Maryland Institute College of Art, and a seamstress.
“If ever there was a public health crisis that merits the finest science, medicine and innovation the world has to offer, it is this one,” said Leslie Mancuso, Jhpiego president and CEO, according to the press release. “The personal protection suit we are developing with our partners at the Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design is purposefully designed to address safety and climate issues now putting health workers at risk.”
The prototype suit was entered into the contest held by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) called “Fighting Ebola: A Grand Challenge for Development,” according to the press release. Out of 1,500 entries, the suit was one of five prototypes chosen to receive funding for further development activities.