An innovative solution to conserve
supply of PPE
As Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needs continue to increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, Department of Surgery physicians have been developing innovative solutions that protect healthcare workers from exposure to patient aerosols during surgery and conserve available supply of PPE.
The idea for the Face Shield prototype was conceived by a surgeon in the Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael Bentz, MD, as the COVID-19 pandemic began to fully impact surgeons and healthcare workers across the U.S. Dr. Bentz created a protective barrier to be worn by surgeons and staff during surgery that can also accommodate surgical tools.
The custom face shield is constructed from a thin piece of reusable plastic that creates a simple barrier for the face, protecting those in the operating room environment from patient aerosols, designed to hang off of operative loupes. The design can accommodate the use of loupes, cameras, and headlights to assist surgeons while performing surgery.
Working in collaboration with the UW-Madison College of Engineering and the UW Makerspace, the idea for the prototype moved into production using computer software and a laser cutter. The final design, created by UW–Madison Division of Information Technology’s Digital Publishing and Printing Services (DPPS), was produced with a die tool to make larger quantities more quickly.
UW Health’s Hospital Incident Command has approved production and use of the surgical shields. The shields will be created for attending surgeons, residents and Advanced Practice Providers to be used in UW Health operating rooms.
The Face Shield was designed, engineered, and tested at University of Wisconsin-Madison in collaboration with the UW Makerspace, the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering, and UW–Madison DPPS. The Face Shield has been approved for use by UW Health.
