Protective Visors Research Articles

Customized protective visors enabled by closed loop controlled 4D printing

The COVID-19 pandemic makes protective visors important for protecting people in close contacts. However, the production of visors cannot be increased greatly in a short time, especially at the beginning of the pandemic. The 3D printing community contributed largely in fabricating the visor frames using the rapid and adaptive manufacturing ability. While there are many open source designs of face visors for affordable 3D printers, all these designs fabricate mono-sized frames without considering diverse users’ dimensions. Here, a new method of visor post-processing technology enabled by closed loop controlled 4D printing is proposed. The new process can further deform the printed visor to any customized size for a more comfortable user experience. FEM analysis of the customized visor also shows consistent wearing experience in different circumstances compared with the old visor design. The fabrication precision and time cost of the method is studied experimentally. A case study regarding the reducing, reusing and recycling (3R) of customized visors in classrooms is proposed to enable the customized visors manufactured in a more sustainable way.

Влияние наклона волноотражающего козырька на высоту защитной стенки резервуара типа «стакан в стакане»

PURPOSE. The article presents the results of experimental studies analysis on the influence of horizontal and inclined wave-reflecting visors proposed for installation on the protective wall of glass-in-glass tank type for reducing its height to or below the maximum possible level of liquid in the main tank. METHODS. In the process of the research work methods of similarity theory and hydraulic laboratory modeling, physical experiment, observation, comparison, finding empirical dependence based on mathematical processing of experimental data, description and generalization have been used. FINDINGS. It has been found that fitting a horizontal or inclined wave-reflecting visor on the protective wall of a “glass-in-glass” type tank is an effective method of reducing its height. At the same time, the best results are shown by a wave-reflecting visor at an angle of 135° to the protective wall which allows, in the interwalled distance ranged from 1.8 to 3 m given the length of its handling radius reducing the height of the protective wall to 85 % of the maximum possible level of liquid in the main tank. RESEARCH APPLICATION FIELD. The proposed method of reducing the height of the protective wall, design schemes and empirical dependencies can serve as the foundation for the development of a regulatory document on ensuring fire safety of “glass-in-glass” type tanks, as well as be used by design organizations to find optimal solutions for the design and placement of typical tanks with a nominal volume of 700 to 30.000 m3. CONCLUSIONS. The proposed design solution will allow designing and operating “glass-in-glass” type tanks, ensuring the required level of fire, industrial and environmental safety provided compliance with the requirements for stability of the protective wall and wave-reflecting visor to the effect liquid flow and collapsing structures in case of the accident of the main tank. At the same time, the application of an additional barrier is not required, since all liquid in case of possible destruction of the main tank will be held by the proposed structure of the protective wall with a wave-reflecting visor.

Optimal shape morphing control of 4D printed shape memory polymer based on reinforcement learning

4D printing technology, as a new generation of Additive Manufacturing methods, enables printed objects to further change their shapes or other properties upon external stimuli. One main category of 4D printing research is 4D printed thermal Shape Memory Polymer (SMP). Its morphing process has large time delay, is nonlinear time variant, and susceptible to unpredictable disturbances. Reaching an arbitrary position with high precision is an active research question. This paper applies the Reinforcement Learning (RL) method to develop an optimal control method to perform closed loop control of the SMP actuation. Precise and prompt shape morphing is achieved compared with previous control methods using a PI controller. The training efforts of RL are further reduced by simplifying the optimal control policy using the structural property of the prior trained results. Customized protective visors against COVID-19 are fabricated using the proposed control method.

Getting lost in the fog of the pandemic: insights from the 'second wave' of COVID-19.

Last Wednesday, at 9 p m , E C —a Combonian brother born in a small town in the Dolomites 74 years ago and resident in Uganda for more than 40 years—died He was a friend of mine The news arrived at the end of my afternoon shift in the COVID-19 ward of my hospital, via text message I squinted my eyes to make out those words, blurred by the passage through multiple transparent layers: the plastic film that wrapped the cell phone to avoid contamination, the bulky protective visor, and finally my glasses, fogged up by my heavy breathing under the double-protective mask

In-hospital 3D Printing to Aid Maxillofacial Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Surgeons around the world share the same goal: providing the best care to their patients. In recent years, the complexity of procedures has increased, and so has the need for enhanced planning, training, and education. A growing number of interventionists and surgeons are using 3D-printed patient-specific models in their practice to prepare for procedures with more confidence. In 2018 we considered to implement 3D printing in our hospital, and we have created a virtual planning and 3D printing LAB within the maxillofacial surgery department at Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, University of Torino, Italy. (See Video [online], which displays the planning, printing and intraoperative cutting guides.) The laboratory is equipped with a CAD station and two 3D printers (Ultimaker 3 Extended and Formlabs Form 3). {"href":"Single Video Player","role":"media-player-id","content-type":"play-in-place","position":"float","orientation":"portrait","label":"Video 1.","caption":"Video 1 from “In-Hospital 3d Printing in Maxillofacial Surgery during the Covid-19 Pandemic”","object-id":[{"pub-id-type":"doi","id":""},{"pub-id-type":"other","content-type":"media-stream-id","id":"1_wgikhelf"},{"pub-id-type":"other","content-type":"media-source","id":"Kaltura"}]} Fig. 1.: Protective visor 3D model to print.3D-printing and advanced visualization techniques have been proved to assist clinicians develop tailored surgical approaches for patients. Hospitals, clinicians, and patients can all benefit from 3D printing regardless of whether the process is handled in-hospital or outsourced. Nevertheless, having a dedicated facility in-house can cut days off the process, support innovation initiatives, and lower the overall costs incurred by the hospital. From the beginning of 2019 until the period before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the laboratory within the department worked at full capacity for the virtual planning of selected cases and for the printing of models. According to Jacobs and Lin,1 3D-printing technologies in cranio-maxillofacial surgery were divided into 4 categories: Type 1 contour models, Type 2 guides, Type 3 splints, and Type 4 implants. In the period between January 2019 and the start of the pandemic, we printed a total of 331 models. In 79 cases, only type 1 models were printed; in 68 cases, type 1 models were printed together with type 2 and 3 models.2 At the start of the lockdown, elective surgical activity was drastically reduced, as well as hospital resources. Surgical activity was therefore limited only to handling trauma and tumors. However, the activity of the 3D laboratory has not suffered a limitation: in addition to the planning and realization of the surgical models, the production of protective visors has been started to support the surgical departments of the entire hospital (Fig. 1). During the period of the lockdown, 650 pieces of personal protective equipment were produced in our 3D laboratory at the Division of Maxillofacial Surgery. The creation of an in-hospital 3D lab has been shown to be an effective tool both for routine surgery and during the pandemic. The ability to customize devices and surgeries proved to be a possibility for the immediate production of emergency devices within the department.

COVID-19 pandemic and dental hygienists in Italy: a questionnaire survey

ObjectiveThis online cross-sectional survey assesses the signs/symptoms, the protective measures taken and the awareness and risk perception regarding COVID-19 among Italian dental hygienists. All Italian dental hygienists were invited to participate. The ad hoc online questionnaire was divided into four domains: personal data, protective measures (−before patient arrival; −in the waiting room; −in the operating room) and PPE, awareness and risk perception.ResultsTwo-thousand-seven-hundred-ninety-eight subjects participated. Only 0.25% of the sample was positive to the virus. Sense of fatigue (8.19%), headache (7.81%) and sore throat (7.32%) were the most common symptoms. A statistically significant trend across the areas with a different prevalence of COVID-19 was observed related to the number of signs/symptoms (areas z = 6.38 p < 0.01). Overall, 90.55% of the sample used protective glasses or visor, 90.10% disposable gloves and 82.80% surgical mask. Regarding the confidence to avoid the infection, a statistically significant difference was found among dental hygienists belonging to the 3 years-professional-experiences groups who worked in the high COVID-19 prevalence area. The findings of this survey show that Italian dental hygienists have modified their working habits according to the professional risk related to the current pandemic and they seem correctly prepared to face the risk of a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Covid-19 Pandemic: The Use of Protective Visor in the Dentistry Degree Course of Dental Prosthetics Technology of the University of Messina

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) [...]

Provisioning of personal protective equipment in hospitals in preparation for a pandemic

HintergrundDurch ungenügende Bevorratung war weltweit von Anfang des SARS-CoV-2(Severe Acute Respiratory Corona Virus 2)-Ausbruchs die persönliche Schutzausrüstung (PSA) knapp. Um beim Ausbruch einer erneuten Epidemie oder Pandemie oder einer „zweiten Welle“ der dadurch bedingten Coronavirus-Krankheit (COVID-19) einem nochmaligen Mangel an PSA begegnen zu können, wird überlegt, wie man durch entsprechende Bevorratung Personal und Patienten besser schützen kann.FragestellungZiel der vorliegenden Studie war, in einer überregionalen Universitätsklinik einen PSA-Bedarfsrechner zu erstellen, der eine Vorhersage erlaubt, welcher PAS-Bedarf bevorratet werden soll.Material und MethodenAm Universitätsklinikum Ulm wurde vom 01.04.2020 bis zum 30.04.2020 der Verbrauch an PSA erhoben, sowie die Anzahl der an COVID-19 erkrankten Patienten bzw. deren Behandlungstage. Daraus wurde der Verbrauch an PSA pro Patient errechnet. Aus den so gewonnenen Verbrauchszahlen pro Patient wurde ein Bedarfsrechner erstellt, in dem sich mit den Variablen „Patienten auf Intensivstation“, „Patienten Infektionsstation“ und „Behandlungstage“ der jeweilige Bedarf an PSA errechnen lässt. Zur Validierung des PSA-Rechners wurde der tatsächliche Verbrauch an PSA für Mai 2020 erhoben und dem mit dem PSA-Rechner ermittelten Bedarf gegenübergestellt.ErgebnisseIm April 2020 wurden 18 PSA-Einzelartikel vorrätig gehalten und in insgesamt 1.995.500 Einzelteilen verbraucht. 22 Intensivpatienten mit 257 Pflegetagen und 39 Patienten mit 357 Pflegtagen auf der Infektionsstation wurden mit COVID-19 behandelt. Insgesamt waren hierfür 603,2 Personaltage (sog. Manntage) notwendig. Es wurden 34.550 Atemschutzmasken, 1.558.780 Handschuhe und 1100 Schutzbrillen oder Schutzvisiere verbraucht, wobei pro Intensivpatient im Schnitt täglich 49 Atemschutzmasken und 2216 Handschuhe benötigt wurden. Im Mai 2020 wurden 6 Intensivpatienten mit COVID-19 behandelt und 19 Patienten auf der Infektionsstation. Der Verbrauch an PSA-Material lag um 39 % niedriger gegenüber dem Vormonat, aber absolut um 82 % und relativ im Mittel um 39 % höher als berechnet.SchlussfolgerungMit dem entwickelten Tool kann für zukünftige Pandemien die notwendige zu bevorratende Menge an PSA abgeschätzt und vorrätig gehalten werden. Dieses Tool kann auch unter Beachtung der örtlichen Gegebenheiten hilfreich für andere Kliniken sein.

Interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy under the protective measures of the COVID-19 pandemic : Analysis and progress report

Aufgrund der COVID-19-Pandemie mussten elektive medizinische Leistungen auf ein Minimum reduziert werden, wovon auch die schmerzmedizinische Versorgung betroffen war. Nach diesen drastischen Einschnitten steht nun eine vorsichtige Wiederaufnahme der elektiven Versorgungen an. Dies betrifft auch die Durchführung von stationären und teilstationären interdisziplinären multimodalen Schmerztherapien (IMST). Nachdem bis dato der Großteil der schmerzmedizinischen Einrichtungen geschlossen hat, stellte sich die Frage, ob unter den geforderten Schutzmaßnahmen eine Wiederaufnahme des Regelbetriebs problemlos umsetzbar ist. Um diese Fragestellung zu beantworten führten wir eine Patientenbefragung bei Patienten durch, die einen direkten Vergleich ziehen konnten zwischen einer IMST unter Normalbedingungen und unter den aktuell benötigten Schutzmaßnahmen. Die Umfrage erfasste dabei den Beeinträchtigungsgrad der unterschiedlichen Schutzmaßnahmen bei den verschiedenen Therapiebausteinen. Die Auswertung der Fragebögen von zwei Patientengruppen sowie aller beteiligten Therapeuten ergab, dass eine interdisziplinäre multimodale Schmerztherapie auch unter den benötigten Schutzmaßnahmen ohne größere Einschränkungen möglich ist. Insbesondere das Tragen einer Mund-Nasen-Schutzmaske erwies sich als die am stärksten beeinträchtigende Schutzmaßnahme. Durch Optionen wie die Verwendung einer Schutzscheibe oder die Verlegung der Therapiebausteine ins Freie stehen aber praktikable Schutzalternativen zur Verfügung. Die Zufriedenheit sowohl von Patienten als auch von Therapeuten war trotz dieser Einschränkungen groß und die persönliche Sorge vor einer möglichen Infektion gering.

Impresión 3D y COVID-19

La impresión 3D es actualmente una tecnología en auge y una herramienta de utilidad en la lucha contra el COVID-19, debido a que permite construir equipos de protección individual a bajo costo. Este trabajo presenta la implementación de visores de protección facial usando impresión 3D y materiales accesibles, para esto se realiza el diseño 3D de la estructura de soporte y se describen los componentes requeridos para construir los visores de protección. Los resultados detallan los recursos utilizados y los tiempos de producción para entregar los visores a los beneficiarios. Se concluye conveniente usar impresión 3D en la fabricación de equipos de protección personal y los visores entregados evitan el contacto directo con pacientes o posibles portadores del virus.

Effect of X-ray protective visors on the eye lens dose during ureteroscopy

Eye lens radiation exposure during fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures may result in occupational radiation-induced cataracts. We evaluated the eye lens radiation doses and the protective effect of X‑ray protective visors during ureteroscopic procedures. Eye lens doses were measured in front of and behind X‑ray protective visors using eye lens dosemeters during ureteroscopic procedures done by 4different endourologic surgeons within a12-week period. Background radiation dose, simultaneously measured with transport dosemeters, was subtracted. Measured eye lens doses below the detection limit of the eye lens dosemeters were adjusted to the detection limit of 0.028 mSv. Correlating the eye lens doses (ELD) to the dose-area-product (DAP) an ELD/DAP ratio was calculated. Applying this ELD/DAP ratio the potential reduction of the eye lens radiation dose was retrospectively calculated for all ureteroscopic procedures done within one year. Within the 12-week period 76ureteroscopies were done by the 4endourologic surgeons. The accumulated eye lens radiation dose was 0.796 mSv in front of the X‑ray protective visors, and 0.338 mSv behind the X‑ray protective visors. Thus, the eye lens radiation exposure was reduced to at least 42% by using X‑ray protective visors. Considering the 215 documented ureteroscopies in our clinic in the year before starting the study, occupational radiation exposure to the eye lens would have been reduced by X‑ray protective visors from 4.090 to 1.737 mSv. X‑ray protective visors can effectively reduce the radiation exposure to the eye lens during fluoroscopy-guided endourologic procedures and should be used especially by high-volume endourologic surgeons.

Hospital care in Departments defined as COVID-free: A proposal for a safe hospitalization protecting healthcare professionals and patients not affected by COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the normal course of clinical practice leading to significant delays in the delivery of healthcare services for patients non affected by COVID-19. In the near future, it will be crucial to identify facilities capable of providing health care in compliance with the safety of healthcare professionals, administrative staff and patients. All the staff involved in the project of a Covid-free hospital should be subjected to a diagnostic swab for COVID-19 before the beginning of healthcare activity and then periodically in order to avoid the risk of contamination of patients during the process of care. The modifications of various activities involved in the process of care are described: outpatient care, reception of inpatients, inpatient ward and operating room. For outpatient care, modality of appointment procedure, characteristics of waiting room and personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare professionals and administrative staff are presented. Reception of inpatients shall be conditional on a negative swab for COVID-19 obtained with a drive-in procedure. The management of the operating room represents the most crucial step of the patient's care process. The surgical team should be restricted and monitored with periodic swabs; surgical procedures should be performed by experienced surgeons according to standard procedures; surgical training experimental treatments and research protocols should be suspended. Adequate personal protective equipment and measures to reduce aerosolization in the operating room (closed circuits, continuous cycle insufflators, fume extraction) should be adopted. Prevention of possible transmission of the virus during procedures in open, laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery is to use a multi-tactic approach, which includes correct filtration and ventilation of the operating room, the use of appropriate PPE (FFP3 plus surgical mask and protective visor for all the staff working in the operating room) and smoke evacuation devices with a suction and filter system. on behalf of the UrOP Executive Committee Giuseppe Ludovico, Angelo Cafarelli, Ottavio De Cobelli, Ferdinando De Marco,Giovanni Ferrari, Stefano Pecoraro, Angelo Porreca, Domenico Tuzzolo.

Ugroženost stomatološkog osoblja SARS-CoV-2 virusom tokom stomatoloških intervencija

Introduction: The dental profession is a high-risk profession, considering the aspect of a possible 100% infection from patients who are carriers of bacterial, viral and fungal diseases during dental interventions. Aim: To perform the analysis of all data that explain the possibility of a SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in dental practice. Material and Methods: The literature data on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus, and its characteristics and behavior in the external environment and in living tissues was analyzed. Databases from the Medline, Cochrane Library, Science-Direct, EMBASE, and Google scholar libraries were used, as well as other sources of literature information about this virus. Results: SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus, which has a submicron size and the ability to survive in various environments. The retention of SARS-CoV-2 virus in air / aerosol lasts an average of 3 hours, while the half-life of this virus is 5 to 6 hours on stainless steel and 6 to 8 hours on plastic. Infected patients with SARS-CoV-2 virus develop COVID-19 disease, which manifests itself through presymptomatic, symptomatic and post-symptomatic periods of the disease. Conclusion: The SARS-CoV-2 virus can be found in aerosols generated by dental equipment, which uses compressed air for its work. Protection of dentists and staff from infection with the virus is possible by wearing an N95 respiratory mask with protection levels 2 and 3, which has a filtration efficiency, i.e. retention of submicron particles with an efficiency of ≥ 98%. Waterproof goggles with a protective visor or a special industrially designed facial visor in the form of a full face mask, which has its own motor for the supply of filtered air to the mask, and which prevents the contamination of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth from liquid or solid aerosol in the air, need to be used. Other disposable protective equipment also must be waterproof. Korona virus izaziva prehladu kod ljudi, koja ima uobičajne simptome prehlade gornjih respiratornih puteva; zahvata nosnu šupljinu,a ponekad se širi i na ždrelo, larinks i sinuse 5,6,7 . Sa druge strane, SARS-CoV-2 virus, koji je izazivač masovne/globalne virusne infekcije, ima sličnosti sa druga dva korona virusa -beta korona virusom (SARS-CoV-1) i virusom srednjeistočnog respiratonog sindroma (MERS-CoV).

Glass-like transparent high strength polyethylene films by tuning drawing temperature

High performance transparent polymeric materials are of great interests in many fields including automotive and electronics. Conventional transparent plastics like polycarbonate (PC) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) possess relatively unsatisfactory mechanical performance, while high performance polymeric systems like solid-state drawn high-density polyethylene (HDPE) typically have an opaque appearance, limiting applications where both mechanical and optical properties are required. In this study, we successfully combined high transparency and high strength in HDPE films by carefully controlling processing parameters during solid-state drawing. By tuning the drawing temperature, highly oriented HDPE films with a transmittance of ∼90% are achieved even in the far field. Greater chain mobility at high drawing temperatures is believed to be responsible for fewer defects in the bulk and on the surface of the drawn films, resulting in less light scattering and hence high clarity. These highly transparent films possess a maximum Young's modulus of 27 GPa and a maximum tensile strength of 800 MPa along the drawing direction, both of which are more than 10 times higher than those of PC and PMMA. Results showed that a wide processing window ranging from 90 °C to 110 °C can be used to tailor the required balance between optical and mechanical performance. It is anticipated that these lightweight, low-cost, highly transparent, high strength and high stiffness HDPE films can be used in laminates and laminated composites, replacing traditional inorganic and polymeric glass for applications in automotive glazing, buildings, windshields, protective visors, displays etc.

Hockey-related facial injuries: a population-based analysis.

Recognition of the potentially severe sequelae arising from inadequate facial protection has facilitated sustained efforts to increase the use of protective visors in recent decades. Our objective was to characterize nationwide trends among patients presenting to emergency departments (ED) for facial injuries sustained while playing ice hockey. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System was searched for hockey-related facial injuries, with analysis for incidence; age and gender; and specific injury diagnoses, mechanisms, and facial locations. There were an estimated 93,444 ED visits for hockey-related facial injuries from 2003 to 2012. The number of annual ED visits declined by 43.8% from 2003 to 2012. A total of 90.6% of patients were male; and the peak age of injury was 17 years. Lacerations were the most common form of facial injury (81.5% of patients) across all age groups. Contusions/abrasions and fractures followed in frequency, with fractures increasing with advancing age. The overall incidence of ED visits due to facial injuries from ice hockey has significantly decreased over the last decade, concurrent with increased societal use of facial protective equipment. Nonetheless, facial hockey injuries facilitate a significant number of ED visits among both adults and children; thus, the knowledge of demographic-specific trends described in this analysis is relevant for physicians involved in the management of facial trauma. These findings reinforce the need to educate individuals who play hockey about the importance of appropriate facial protection.

Protective visors in seven colours

Protective visors in seven colours

Aircrew laser eye protection visors

A chromatic performance simulation is introduced to achieve a sensitive transmission/attenuation property of aircrew laser eye protection (LEP) visors. The simulation optimizes dye selection for best visual performance during the design phase without actually manufacturing test pieces. Prototype daytime and nighttime LEP in-helmet type visors are manufactured to demonstrate that careful dye selection can realize attenuation by a factor of more than 1000 at four laser lines in the visible to near-infrared spectral range, and simultaneously realize the high visibility required for aircrew job performance. Optical measurements and several key ballistic protection tests prove that both LEP visors meet military use requirements.