I was president of the IET for 2016-17, and have been asked by government to gather practical and innovative ideas from our Engineering communities. So, please enter any ideas you might have in this thread that might help address and mitigate the Covid-19 crisis. Ideas might include digital tracking / monitoring through therapy equipment and beyond. Even ideas outside your usual expertise domain will be welcome. Now’s the time for Engineering to show we can change the world!
Talking to my GP friend, apparently the NHS are very resistant to talk about the sterilisation and reuse of the masks and PPE. Despite many solutions being potentially on offer. In our brief chat we discussed X-Ray, Gamma Radiation Exposure and Microwave.
X Ray has some pedigree, but I have no idea if a typical hospital machine could deliver enough energy, or whether it's a case of prolonging exposure to compensate.
It seems the issue may be more political, than practical following our chat. He has some P3 masks himself... He's not allowed to use them as they insist on using single use fabric ones, not due to effectiveness but due to the knowledge they are sterile. Suggestions of sterilisation techniques have apparently fallen on deaf ears. Maybe the IET approaching the Royal College of Surgeons and asking about the problem might encourage engagement.
Talking to my GP friend, apparently the NHS are very resistant to talk about the sterilisation and reuse of the masks and PPE. Despite many solutions being potentially on offer. In our brief chat we discussed X-Ray, Gamma Radiation Exposure and Microwave.
X Ray has some pedigree, but I have no idea if a typical hospital machine could deliver enough energy, or whether it's a case of prolonging exposure to compensate.
It seems the issue may be more political, than practical following our chat. He has some P3 masks himself... He's not allowed to use them as they insist on using single use fabric ones, not due to effectiveness but due to the knowledge they are sterile. Suggestions of sterilisation techniques have apparently fallen on deaf ears. Maybe the IET approaching the Royal College of Surgeons and asking about the problem might encourage engagement.
