As the world continues to battle COVID-19, personal protection equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks, and gowns have become scarce. The World Health Organization has called for a 40% increase in manufacturing to keep up with demand. Though manufacturers are scrambling to meet needs, the shortage remains.

But a short term solution may be at hand. U.S. Army doctors working in Defense Health Agency hospitals have designed a prototype to provide make-shift isolation chambers from common materials. PVP piping and plastic sheeting are used to create a tent over a patient's chest and face. Tubes are placed on either end of the chamber to create a one way flow of oxygen, allowing medical professionals to safely treat patients despite PPE shortages.

The doctors are now calling on the FDA to provide emergency use authorization for the “COVID-19 Airway Management Isolation Chamber”. Maj. Douglas Ruhl, one of the inventors, said “The device can also contain infective particles during other airway treatments, like high-flow oxygen, a nebulizer, or a CPAP, and hopefully decrease the need for ventilators.”

Maj. Steven Hong, another of the device’s inventors, served alongside Vision Quest’s Dr. Jacob Mong last year when they were deployed to Iraq. Dr. Mong considers him a close friend and colleague. 

Congratulations to Maj. Steven Hong and the rest of the team on this important breakthrough! We are ecstatic to see such innovation coming from our nation's military, especially during a worldwide pandemic.