SA company wins top award for 3D printed respirator that protects medics
A Cape Town industrial design firm has won gold at the prestigious International Design Awards in the US.
Ideso took top honours in the Industrial And Life Science Design/Safety Designs category for its Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR).
The PAPR is a form of personal protective equipment (PPE) used to safeguard health care professionals in contact with Covid-19 or TB patients.
It is 3D printed which makes it affordable, and also modular, allowing single components to be replaced.

The Ideso PAPR has answered an urgent need, say the International Design Awards judges.
"Feedback from health care professionals like doctors, dentists and physiotherapists has been overwhelmingly positive, praising the ease of use, light weight, comfort and, importantly, the level of safety."
The PAPR is selling for for just over R6,800 versus R30–R40,000 for imported units says Ideso design director Marc Ruwiel.
On The Money Show, he explains how it all started.
It unfolded through a Dr Ettienne Myburgh who put out a call on Facebook I think the week after South Africa went into its very first lockdown... He said something like this would become very necessary very soon...
Marc Ruwiel, Design director - Ideso
We responded to the challenge... We spent about two months developing the PAPR and prototyping it and eventually we put it into production!
Marc Ruwiel, Design director - Ideso
The air inlet of the respirator is worn in a pack on the medical professional's back.
Two filters filtrate about 99.5% of particles larger than 0.1 micron.
Because that is facing away from a patient who may be infected, you're getting purified air that we suck through these filters and you create a positive air pressure around your face.
Marc Ruwiel, Design director - Ideso
Visit Ideso's website for more info or contact Marc Ruwiel at marc@udeso.co.za.
Listen to the interview on The Money Show:

Source : https://www.facebook.com/ideso.design/photos/pcb.834725787104664/834727847104458/
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