The team is now referring to the modified Hazmat-type hood/temporary emergency helmet as a PAPR, and the final helmet as the "Full Functionality Helmet System".
Here is the text and pictures from the most recent emails and documents:
Email:
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
"Be assured, the PAPR will function with a positive pressure, that is, if there is any leakage at the seals, the air will seep out, not in. And, it will have the means to maintain the temperature as you need it; and will filter out all odors.
With the PAPR concept, then there will be design modification features that: (a) Assure that the air does not enter and blow on the right side of your face; (b) There will be a means to assure that the PAPR cannot physically touch the sensitive part of the right side of your face, and: (c) A means will be provided to keep the PAPR from resting anywhere on you that will not be comfortable for you. But, it won’t be “pretty,” it will be a quick but effective design - just to get you to the OR. The face shield will not touch any part of the right side of your face or head.
For this temporary design, it will anchor to the back side and the left side of your head, and extend over the right side but not touch it at all – staying an inch or more away from your skin. The shield is designed to protect your right side hyper-sensitive areas from being touched or from the discomforts of air currents based on the pictures you provided. To expedite we want to use a commercially available hood and we only have limited control of shape and air flow. The shield concept, while maybe not ideal, should mitigate these issues by standing off from you temples by about 2 cm. We are actually learning a lot from this expedited effort which should help us optimize the final system. We also plan to sew a cloth neck closure to the hood. We are waiting for you to receive the samples so we know if the cloth we have is acceptable. A number of companies are offering to contribute materials and services. One concept for the full design is to fabricate out of the polycarbonate plastic that you selected with the addition of a metal plated coating. The company offering to do the plating is suggesting copper plating, having indicated that some people are sensitive to nickel. Are you aware of any sensitivities you have? We will send samples when available."
Attached document and pictures:
1. Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR)
The team is working another approach using a modified PAPR system. Included is a polycarbonate face shield custom formed to fit her head to protect her hyper-sensitive facial areas from touch and air currents. The PAPR hood would fit over top of the face shield. A heater unit is being fabricated to regulate temp to the required 84 F. No cooling system is currently being worked for the interim system.
Materials swatches from several PAPR systems were mailed to Christine to determine any sensitivities. One of the more promising PAPRs had a tight fitting rubber neck dam. The rubber is being removed and replaced with cloth that can be opened and then sealed closed.
Here is the text and pictures from the most recent emails and documents:
Email:
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
"Be assured, the PAPR will function with a positive pressure, that is, if there is any leakage at the seals, the air will seep out, not in. And, it will have the means to maintain the temperature as you need it; and will filter out all odors.
With the PAPR concept, then there will be design modification features that: (a) Assure that the air does not enter and blow on the right side of your face; (b) There will be a means to assure that the PAPR cannot physically touch the sensitive part of the right side of your face, and: (c) A means will be provided to keep the PAPR from resting anywhere on you that will not be comfortable for you. But, it won’t be “pretty,” it will be a quick but effective design - just to get you to the OR. The face shield will not touch any part of the right side of your face or head.
For this temporary design, it will anchor to the back side and the left side of your head, and extend over the right side but not touch it at all – staying an inch or more away from your skin. The shield is designed to protect your right side hyper-sensitive areas from being touched or from the discomforts of air currents based on the pictures you provided. To expedite we want to use a commercially available hood and we only have limited control of shape and air flow. The shield concept, while maybe not ideal, should mitigate these issues by standing off from you temples by about 2 cm. We are actually learning a lot from this expedited effort which should help us optimize the final system. We also plan to sew a cloth neck closure to the hood. We are waiting for you to receive the samples so we know if the cloth we have is acceptable. A number of companies are offering to contribute materials and services. One concept for the full design is to fabricate out of the polycarbonate plastic that you selected with the addition of a metal plated coating. The company offering to do the plating is suggesting copper plating, having indicated that some people are sensitive to nickel. Are you aware of any sensitivities you have? We will send samples when available."
Attached document and pictures:
1. Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR)
The team is working another approach using a modified PAPR system. Included is a polycarbonate face shield custom formed to fit her head to protect her hyper-sensitive facial areas from touch and air currents. The PAPR hood would fit over top of the face shield. A heater unit is being fabricated to regulate temp to the required 84 F. No cooling system is currently being worked for the interim system.
Materials swatches from several PAPR systems were mailed to Christine to determine any sensitivities. One of the more promising PAPRs had a tight fitting rubber neck dam. The rubber is being removed and replaced with cloth that can be opened and then sealed closed.
A mannequin head was found that seems to be close to her head size. Using clay the sensitive areas were offset. The modified head-form was laser scanned, replicated on the Steriolithography system, and used to vacuum form the polycarbonate shield. Polycarbonate was used based on her sniff tests showing no sensitivity to Polycarbonate.
2. Full Functionality Helmet System. Progress is continuing on the development of the fully functional helmet system. Current thrust is CAD modeling.
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