Friday 27 March 2020

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPING PROTOTYPE FOR REUSABLE SURGICAL MASK

Mercer’s School of Engineering is developing a prototype for a reusable surgical mask to distribute to local healthcare providers. The University has plans for an initial run of 15 by the end of the week with materials on hand to make as many as 150.

The masks, made of a durable polypropylene-like material, are intended to be sanitized and reused with the exception of a small high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter that is clipped in place at the front of the mask and must be replaced.

The project was initiated by Macon dentist Dr. Amber Lawson, a 2002 graduate of Mercer’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She contacted University officials earlier this week about producing a 3D-printed mask that she learned about while serving on the Georgia Dental Association’s COVID-19 Task Force. Cumming orthodontist Dr. Mark Causey shared with Dr. Lawson and other task force members a design for a mask that could be sealed using dental materials, providing an option for healthcare providers in areas with shortages of N95 masks.

“We’re in unprecedented times,” said Dr. Lawson. “We’re all trying to help each other, and our healthcare providers are on the front lines. We have to work together to do anything we can to try to give them confidence that they are protected so they can continue to look out for their patients and our communities.”

Seeking someone in Macon to test the materials and produce the masks for local providers, Dr. Lawson was put in contact with Dr. Joanna Thomas, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, and Dr. Anthony Choi, professor of electrical and computer engineering, at Mercer.

“It’s a trying time and challenging for a lot of people, especially our medical professionals,” said Dr. Thomas. “When the opportunity presented itself to try to help in just a small way, is computer science engineering for it and see what we can come up with.”

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