Use of Commercial Off-The-Shelf Parts with 3-D Printed Connectors for Powered Air Purifying Respirators
This report presents preliminary results from the performance evaluation of a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) assembled from commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts. Cost is a major limiting factor to PAPR adoption in healthcare. Moreover, the lack of standardization for filters and batteries poses a challenge for clinics and hospitals. Rapid prototyping of connectors, both mechanical and electrical, offers a possible solution in addressing both issues. We used 3-D printed connectors to assemble COTS components into a prototype PAPR. Large-scale manufacturing of 3-D printed connectors may be accomplished by converting the computer-aided design (CAD) drawings to pressure-injection molds.