A BioEngineering approach for the SAFE design and fitting of Respiratory Protective Equipment (BE-SAFE RPE)

呼吸防护装备被广泛用于限制病毒和细菌的传播，是控制新冠肺炎的关键手段。特别是，最初设计用于防止空气中粉尘颗粒的FFP3/N95型口罩已被广泛用于保护医护人员(图1)。通过适合性测试检查，这些口罩必须紧密贴合面部，以形成气密性密封。然而，这些口罩通常是为白人男性工作人员设计的，提供的尺寸和几何尺寸有限。这可能会导致过度收紧，以弥补与软组织损伤相关的适合性差，以及增加感染的风险。这个多学科项目将调查RPE设备的适合性和生物力学，以确保提供与用户的安全接口。计算模型和核磁共振成像将被用来探索面部软组织在接触面具时是如何变形的。这些模型将通过实验监测RPE应用过程中的机械和热负荷以及局部皮肤生理的相关变化来了解。此外，该项目将利用现有的脸型数据库来调查更具代表性的用户范围内口罩的适合性。这将导致开发新口罩的设计模板(与英国制造商合作)、评估面部损伤风险的标准测试方法(STM)(与测试和标准组织合作)以及智能试戴软件以确保用户选择正确的口罩。

Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is widely used to limit the transmission of viruses and bacteria, representing a critical means of controlling Covid-19. In particular, respirator masks of the FFP3/N95 types, originally designed to protect against airborne dust particles, have been widely used to protect healthcare workers (Fig 1). It is essential that these masks fit tightly against the face to make an airtight seal, checked by fit testing. However, these masks are typically designed for a white male workforce, providing a limited range of size and geometry. This can lead to overtightening to compensate for a poor fit, which is associated with soft tissue injuries, as well as an increased risk of infection. This multidisciplinary project will investigate the fit and biomechanics of RPE devices, to ensure provision of a safe interface with users. Computational modelling and MRI will be used to explore how the soft tissues of the face deform in contact with a mask. These models will be informed through experimental monitoring of mechanical and thermal loads during RPE application and the associated changes in local skin physiology. In addition, the project will utilise existing databases of face shapes to investigate the fit of masks on a more representative range of users. This will lead to the development of design templates for new masks (working with UK manufacturers), standard test methods (STMs) to evaluate the risk of facial injury (working with testing and standards organisations), and intelligent fitting software to ensure that users select the correct mask.