Offshore staff
IRVING, Texas – ExxonMobil and the Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI) will collaborate to swiftly re-design and manufacture reusable personal protection equipment for health care workers.
Items such as face shields and masks are in short supply as a result of the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus.
ExxonMobil said it is applying its experience with and know-how in polymer-based technologies, in combination with GCMI, to facilitate development and expedite third-party production of innovative safety equipment.
A new industrial-style mask, on the fasttrack to production, is said to improve coverage of a health care worker’s nose and mouth.
It will employ a replaceable cartridge system that includes a filtration fabric to prevent contact spread of the virus from the saturated filter.
The filters are disposable while the main component of the mask is said to be capable of withstanding repeated sterilization. This should extend the life-cycle of the product and address shortages of N95 masks, ExxonMobil said.
Prototypes are presently being tested and reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration. Following approval, production will start immediately, with ExxonMobil supporting identification of manufacturers familiar with the materials and process to quickly deliver the masks to doctors, nurses and health care providers.
Manufactures hope to be able to produce up to 40,000 ready-to-use masks and filter cartridges per hour.
Another product developed by GCMI is a face shield made from high-grade polymers said to withstand the harsh conditions of sterilization, allowing for re-use.
The technology is said to comply with existing safety standards, reducing the time from design to front-line use.
According to ExxonMobil, more than 50,000 units have already been produced and are being distributed to hospitals in New York and Atlanta. There are plans to manufacture more than 170,000 shields/hr shortly.
GCMI verifies, validates, and accelerates the development and commercialization of new medical technologies, and has participated in various collaborative research programs to protect frontline healthcare personnel against COVID-19.
ExxonMobil is making its specialists available to provide technical expertise, and is also delivering polypropylene from its manufacturing sites in Baytown, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
If needed, the raw materials will be expedited for face mask assembly, the company said, adding that it would also facilitate supply chain interfaces to speed up deployment.
04/02/2020
