Students and employees of Lodz University of Technology have joined in the efforts to make personal protective equipment for medical personnel. Using 3D printing technology, they produce face shields and masks, and help maintain radio communication in hospitals.
Several teams are currently working at Lodz University of Technology, putting to good use their high technical skills and specialized equipment to aid front-line personnel in the fight against the coronavirus: doctors, nurses, paramedics, and lab technicians.
- For over a year, we have been cooperating with the following teams: prof. Elżbieta Miller's, Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lodz, and dr hab. Katarzyna Hojan's, Maria Skłodowska–Curie Greater Poland Cancer Centre in Poznan. Last Thursday, it turned out that both teams did not have enough personal protective gear: masks and face shields, which, especially in the case of older, post-stroke, and oncology patients, posed a great risk. That is why we have been printing face shields and sewing masks since then. So far, we have twice given them to hospitals, altogether more than 60 masks and 20 face shields, and naturally, we keep making them. The first batch for the two hospitals included masks, face shields, nitrile gloves from the supplies of the Robots for Humans laboratory, as well as hand disinfection fluid prepared according to WHO guidelines – explained dr inz. Igor Zubrycki, Institute of Automation, Faculty of Electrical, Electronics, Computer and Control Engineering.
The face shields are particularly popular because of their low weight and simple design. They resemble safety googles.
- We have found and modified slightly the Swedish Faceshield.nu design so that we could produce a single face shield in about 40 minutes. The face shield is printed with a 3D printer whereas the transparent foil is cut out with a laser or simply prepared with a paper punch to cut down the time it takes to make it. And it all happens in ahome setting" added dr inz. Zubrycki. - Members of Robots for Humans are involved in this operation. They are part of Lodz University of Technology Student Robotics Science Club "Skaner", as well as Lidia Lipińska and Honorata Łukasik.
The SP7TUL Shortwave Radio Club, operating within the Main Library of TUL and brings together employees, doctoral students, and students of Lodz University of Technology, has also joined in the efforts to combat the epidemic.
- The SP7TUL Shortwave Radio Club declared their readiness to enable communication by means of radiophones and long-range radiocommunication equipment in case traditional communication is not possible.This notification was accepted by the Emergency Communication Coordinator in Łódź and the Regional Branch No. 15 in Łódź - says Karol Smużny, an IT specialist at the TUL Library.
The support offered by members of the SP7TUL Shortwave Radio Club was taken advantage of by the doctor on duty at the SOR in Zgierz. Radio communication in that facility was successfully configured and activated by phone, which allowed the "contagious zone" to maintain communication with the "non-contagious zone" other than by phone.
- Arrangements are being made to launch radio communication in the Emergency Department of the hospital in Pomorska Street - informs Karol Smużny. - Using a 3D printer, we have also been making medical protective clothing elements for doctors and paramedics.
Many other students of Lodz University of Technology are also involved in the printing of face shields for medical personnel, including members of the Lodz Solar Team.
Date of record:2020-04-06
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Submitted by:
Anna Boczkowska
