A numerical analysis of skin–PPE interaction to prevent facial tissue injury
Abstract The use of close-fitting PPE is essential to prevent exposure to dispersed airborne matter, including the COVID-19 virus. The current pandemic has increased pressure on healthcare systems around the world, leading to medical professionals using high-grade PPE for prolonged durations, result...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95861-3 |
| _version_ | 1818842877016408064 |
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| author | Rikeen D. Jobanputra Jack Hayes Sravani Royyuru Marc A. Masen |
| author_facet | Rikeen D. Jobanputra Jack Hayes Sravani Royyuru Marc A. Masen |
| author_sort | Rikeen D. Jobanputra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The use of close-fitting PPE is essential to prevent exposure to dispersed airborne matter, including the COVID-19 virus. The current pandemic has increased pressure on healthcare systems around the world, leading to medical professionals using high-grade PPE for prolonged durations, resulting in device-induced skin injuries. This study focuses on computationally improving the interaction between skin and PPE to reduce the likelihood of discomfort and tissue damage. A finite element model is developed to simulate the movement of PPE against the face during day-to-day tasks. Due to limited available data on skin characteristics and how these vary interpersonally between sexes, races and ages, the main objective of this study was to establish the effects and trends that mask modifications have on the resulting subsurface strain energy density distribution in the skin. These modifications include the material, geometric and interfacial properties. Overall, the results show that skin injury can be reduced by using softer mask materials, whilst friction against the skin should be minimised, e.g. through use of micro-textures, humidity control and topical creams. Furthermore, the contact area between the mask and skin should be maximised, whilst the use of soft materials with incompressible behaviour (e.g. many elastomers) should be avoided. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T04:48:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed9ef5127b1549eabca43e5307c3efac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T04:48:57Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed9ef5127b1549eabca43e5307c3efac2022-12-21T20:35:25ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-08-0111111010.1038/s41598-021-95861-3A numerical analysis of skin–PPE interaction to prevent facial tissue injuryRikeen D. Jobanputra0Jack Hayes1Sravani Royyuru2Marc A. Masen3Tribology Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College LondonTribology Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College LondonTribology Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College LondonTribology Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College LondonAbstract The use of close-fitting PPE is essential to prevent exposure to dispersed airborne matter, including the COVID-19 virus. The current pandemic has increased pressure on healthcare systems around the world, leading to medical professionals using high-grade PPE for prolonged durations, resulting in device-induced skin injuries. This study focuses on computationally improving the interaction between skin and PPE to reduce the likelihood of discomfort and tissue damage. A finite element model is developed to simulate the movement of PPE against the face during day-to-day tasks. Due to limited available data on skin characteristics and how these vary interpersonally between sexes, races and ages, the main objective of this study was to establish the effects and trends that mask modifications have on the resulting subsurface strain energy density distribution in the skin. These modifications include the material, geometric and interfacial properties. Overall, the results show that skin injury can be reduced by using softer mask materials, whilst friction against the skin should be minimised, e.g. through use of micro-textures, humidity control and topical creams. Furthermore, the contact area between the mask and skin should be maximised, whilst the use of soft materials with incompressible behaviour (e.g. many elastomers) should be avoided.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95861-3 |
| spellingShingle | Rikeen D. Jobanputra Jack Hayes Sravani Royyuru Marc A. Masen A numerical analysis of skin–PPE interaction to prevent facial tissue injury Scientific Reports |
| title | A numerical analysis of skin–PPE interaction to prevent facial tissue injury |
| title_full | A numerical analysis of skin–PPE interaction to prevent facial tissue injury |
| title_fullStr | A numerical analysis of skin–PPE interaction to prevent facial tissue injury |
| title_full_unstemmed | A numerical analysis of skin–PPE interaction to prevent facial tissue injury |
| title_short | A numerical analysis of skin–PPE interaction to prevent facial tissue injury |
| title_sort | numerical analysis of skin ppe interaction to prevent facial tissue injury |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95861-3 |
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