PolyU new N95 respirators with unique adjustable elastic straps.
Our team of nursing and infection control experts discussed how to improve the usability of the new respirators.
PolyU new N95 respirators come in two face sizes for perfect fit.
A letter of appreciation was received from the care centre, expressing gratitude to Dr Simon Lam and his team for their efforts in performing N95 respirator fit test for the frontline staff.
A letter of appreciation was received from the care centre, expressing gratitude to Dr Simon Lam and his team for their efforts in performing N95 respirator fit test for the frontline staff.
PolyU has filed a patent at the Patents Registry, Intellectual Property Department, HK Government, for the unique ‘adjustable elastic straps’ of the new N95 surgical particulate respirators, developed and validated by Dr Simon Lam and his team* (filer’s ref: HK32020021992.3) and a license agreement was signed on 11 January 2021 between PolyU Technology and Consultancy Company Ltd. and Vannex International Limited, which sets the ground for bulk manufacturing of the respirators for commercial and clinical uses.
Traditional N95 respirators have non-adjustable stripes and do not fit well on Chinese people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, shortage in the supply of traditional N95 respirators has turned healthcare workers to spend long hours in wearing N95 nano-fiber masks, particularly those with ear loops and clips to protect themselves against the novel virus. These tight fitted masks have left many healthcare workers with pain, pressure sores or bruises. Dr Lam had the same experience in the battle against SARS in 2003 when he was a nurse on the coronavirus frontline. Determined to find the solution, Dr Lam led our team of nursing and infection control experts to develop new N95 respirators.
The uniqueness of our new respirators lies in their innovative PVC (synthetic rubber) adjustable elastic straps that allow users to fit the respirators according to their facial contour and head size to optimise fit rates. All models of our new N95 respirators are certificated with FFP3 or FFP2 standards (highest respirator standards-at least 99% or 94% filter capacity in removing of all particles that are 0.3/0.4 microns in diameter or larger).
Our new N95 respirators were debuted in the Haven of Hope Sister Annie Skau Holistic Care Centre (基督教靈實協會靈實司務道寧養院), a centre providing palliative and elderly care, and have received very positive feedback. Dr Lam and his team performed fit tests with the new respirators on over 100 centre’s staff and the new N95 respirators were proven outstanding. ‘The fit rates of traditional N95 respirators are about 60% for Chinese people. The two models of new respirators obtained very good fit rates at 87% and 88%,’ said Dr Simon Lam. Dr Paul Wong, Deputy Medical Superintendent of the holistic care centre commented in a letter of appreciation to the School that ‘the usability of these respirators, e.g., optimal tightness, comfort level and prolonged usage, were all satisfactory and better than any conventional model.’
Meanwhile, Dr Lam’s team has provided samples of the new respirators to the Hospital Authority (HA) Head Office, hospitals under HA, and some private hospitals for trial and examination. ‘The new respirators will certainly play an important role in protecting ten thousands of our healthcare professionals in hospitals and clinics, as well as healthcare workers in the community, ‘said Dr Simon Lam.
*Dr Simon Lam (Principle Investigator and Deputy Director of the School’s Squina International Centre for Infection Control) and our team of nursing and infection control experts including: Dr Lorna Suen, Dr Sukki Ho, Ms Ka-Yan Ko, Mr Timothy Lai, Mr Keith Fung, and Ms Wing-sum Ng.
Press Contacts
Miss Helen Hsu
Communications Manager, School of Nursing
- (852) 2766 4129
- helen.hsu@polyu.edu.hk
