This project will produce a low cost, ergonomic, hood integrated PAPR for use initially within the NHS. It will focus on user centred design, engineering optimisation, feasibility testing, certification and intellectual property protection.

This study will evaluate the pre-CE marked Bubble PAPR prototype PPE in the clinical environment and gather usability data from consenting participants (staff).

Aim: To develop low cost, ergonomic, personal protective equipment to prevent virus transmission to NHS healthcare workers.

This project aims to address these problems by taking a user centred design approach to develop and manufacture a highly functional Hood Integrated Personal Air Purifying Respirator (HI-PAPR) at a low cost. The design team brings together Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) ICU frontline clinical staff, an experienced product design consultancy, Designing Science Limited (DSL) and the technical expertise of the School of Engineering at the University of Manchester (UoM). The project will run through a rapid design and evaluation cycle in simulated and clinical environments to refine the concept to meet regulatory requirements. The final product could be used in primary/secondary care and in the community and will be ready for wide-scale manufacture and supply for the UK NHS within six months of the project start.

This study will evaluate Bubble PAPR in the clinical environment and gather usability data from frontline healthcare staff.

We hypothesise that:

• The Bubble PAPR will meet or exceed the British and European standards for PAPRs.
• That participating staff who subsequently use the PAPR will rate the PPE as:
• More comfortable than current PPE
• Safer than current PPE
• Easier to communicate with colleagues than current PPE
• Easier to communicate with patients than current PPE

Our research question is:

• Do clinical staff report that the Bubble PAPR is more comfortable than current FFP3 facemasks.

Inclusion Criteria:

Provision of informed consent; bedside clinical staff (medical, nursing, allied healthcare professional) who manage patients with COVID-19 disease during routine clinical duties.

Exclusion Criteria:

Refusal to participate; unable to, or unwilling to wear the Bubble PAPR

All individuals will be considered for inclusion in this study regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex, and sexual orientation except where the study inclusion and exclusion criteria EXPLICITLY state otherwise.