TY - JOUR T1 - Negative pressure patient isolation device to enable non-invasive respiratory support for COVID-19 and beyond JF - BMJ Innovations JO - BMJ Innov SP - 292 LP - 296 DO - 10.1136/bmjinnov-2020-000551 VL - 7 IS - 2 AU - Auriel August AU - Mariel Bolhouse AU - Brian Rice AU - James Kennedy Wall Y1 - 2021/04/01 UR - http://innovations.bmj.com/content/7/2/292.abstract N2 - Summary boxWhat are the new findings?Nosocomial spread of COVID-19 and other airborne infectious diseases can occur during non-invasive aerosolising procedures.The in-room suction system in most hospitals can generate enough pressure to create a negative pressure environment around a patient’s head.The ARIEL is an effective and low-cost solution to allow safe, widespread use of non-invasive positive pressure respiratory support devices.How might it impact on healthcare in the future?Effective, low cost and packable solutions are required to enable deployment at scale.Nosocomial spread of COVID-19 and other airborne infectious diseases will continue to be a threat and infrastructure such as The ARIEL can help mitigate this risk.As healthcare systems adapt to living with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the risk of aerosolising infectious viral particles has emerged as an ongoing threat in hospitals when treating patients suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19; especially as we head into a second wave this winter.SARS-CoV-2 is primarily a droplet contagion, spreading through close contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person.1 Droplet particles range from 5 to 100 µm and remain suspended in the air for just seconds in the wake of an infected individual.2 In contrast, aerosol particles are <5 µm, can travel over 10 m and can remain suspended for hours in the wake of an infected person. As we learn more about SARS-CoV-2 there is mounting concern that aerosols are a significant driver of transmission.3–6 There are certain respiratory interventions performed that generate aerosols from the patient and thus have become a cause for concern as SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread. The aforementioned non-invasive aerosolising procedures (NAPs) include, but are not limited to, high flow nasal cannula, medication nebulisers, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP).7 These are all important intermediate options for respiratory support for patients prior to needing invasive intubation.Due to the risk of … ER -