By FUMI YADA/ Staff Writer
May 10, 2021 at 07:00 JST
A conventional soft bag-type plastic isolator used for transporting novel coronavirus patients at Osaka University Hospital in Suita, Osaka Prefecture (Fumi Yada)
SUITA, Osaka Prefecture--A hospital here, frustrated by the poor design of isolators for transporting novel coronavirus patients, is developing its own and turning to crowdfunding to cover the costs.
Doctors at Osaka University Hospital have designed a capsule-shaped isolation unit that is more spacious for patients and safer for medical personnel transporting them.
The hospital has been using soft bag-type plastic isolators to prevent secondary infections from patients to doctors and nurses during transportation.
But their plastic film is apt to stick to the patient’s body, making them feel claustrophobic. Medical personnel also have difficulties checking the patient when the film wrinkles.
It also takes about two hours to prepare the units for use and to disinfect them afterward.
Other commercially available isolators have similar problems, so the hospital decided to develop an original model designed by its doctors.
“After seeing many patients up close, I was hoping that there would be a gentler way to carry them,” said paramedic Haruna Maebe, 61. “We want to reduce the burden on patients.”
The crowdfunding campaign has met its goal of 10 million yen ($92,000), but it will continue until the end of May.
The new model measures 200 centimeters long, 70 cm high and 60 cm wide, giving the patient enough space to sit up.
It uses transparent resin and aluminum materials that ensure the isolator keeps its shape and provides better visibility for medical staff.
Osaka University Hospital treats COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms at its Trauma and Acute Critical Care Center and other departments.
Patients who have recovered to a stable condition are transferred in isolators to other hospitals to free up beds for incoming patients with severe symptoms. The hospital had transported 54 patients by April 6.
The hospital intends to place orders for the isolators with a manufacturing company and begin using them by the end of March.
Its crowdfunding campaign is being held on Readyfor at (https://readyfor.jp/projects/handai-99).
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