With the current nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment and appropriate medical supplies, particularly in hospitals, the SuperATV team is doing what they can to help out. After releasing our Clearly Safer Personal Shields at the end of March, we started searching for other ways we could put our manufacturing expertise to good use. The answer came to us in the form of polycarbonate intubation hoods. These new safety products are already being utilized at medical facilities in and around our hometown of Madison, Indiana, and they’re now available for purchase all over the world.
Intubation hoods are clear, hollow cubes that are placed over a patient’s head during the intubation process. There are two holes in the side closest to the doctor, allowing medical professionals to stick their hands through and access the patient’s airway without exposing themselves to germs and contaminants. The clear polycarbonate gives doctors and first responders a clear view of what they’re doing while protecting them from the unnecessary exchange of bodily fluid.
These products are especially helpful in today’s climate, where the COVID-19 virus is spreading rapidly. Patients who appear stable can be overcome with severe breathing complications in a matter of minutes, which is when doctors have to step in and intubate (or insert a breathing tube down the patient’s airway) in order to keep the patient alive. With so many patients in need of this procedure, and the threat of passing germs higher than ever, our medical professionals need all of the extra protection they can get.
These clear, protective boxes are still fairly new to the medical world. The first intubation hood was developed by a Taiwanese anesthesiologist in early January, when the COVID-19 virus had peaked in China. The original designer made his plans free to the public in hopes that others would begin producing the hoods for hospitals around the world, and that’s exactly what happened. Different variations of the original intubation hood design have spawned since then, but they’re all created with the same purpose in mind: to protect vulnerable healthcare professionals working on the front lines of this disease.
Hard-coated polycarbonate, of course! We took our favorite UTV windshield material—1/4” polycarbonate—and started making it into hollow boxes that are twenty inches tall, twenty-three inches wide, and sixteen inches deep. The box is open on two sides, allowing for it to be comfortably placed over a patient’s head. The side closest to the doctor has two holes, each seven inches in diameter, through which they can place their arms in order to access the patient’s airways. We also added a two-inch slot on both sides of the box, allowing medical staff to secure the intubation hood to a bed or gurney if needed.
Assembling these boxes is quick and easy. The sides are held together with zip ties, allowing you to break it down for storage or sanitation and then re-assemble it as many times as needed. Our proprietary XR Optic Hard Coating extends the life of the intubation hoods even more by protecting against scratches, abrasions, and harsh chemicals. And we know how important sanitation is these days, especially in a hospital setting, so we made sure these hoods can be easily cleaned using Lysol and a soft microfiber cloth.
At SuperATV, we never stop innovating and looking for new ways to help. Our Clearly Safer Intubation Hoods and Clearly Safer Personal Shields are just a couple examples of that spirit. We’re proud to put our expertise and manufacturing resources to good use during a time of need, especially when it helps our essential workers and medical professionals.
“Our healthcare workers are our top priority,” said Lindsay Hunt, Vice President of Sales and Administration. “We count on them to protect our community and keep us healthy, and in turn, SuperATV is doing what we can to minimize their risk of illness while doing their jobs.”
For more information on our Clearly Safer Intubation Hoods, check out Christian’s video below or give us a call at 855-743-3427.
