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The Contribution of Plastics
In the Treatment Of COVID -19 Patients
A surgical mask, on the other hand, is a
loose-fitting, disposable device that creates a physical
barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and
potential contaminants in the immediate environment. These
masks are suitable for non-medical personnel. If worn
properly, a surgical mask is meant to help block
large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays, or splatter
that may contain viruses and bacteria. Surgical masks may
also help reduce exposure of the wearer's saliva and
respiratory secretions to others. Surgical masks are also
made from a nonwoven process similar to the N95 masks,
however, they are not multilayered and do not have the
same filtration efficiency.
Gloves
Gloves are not considered necessary to be worn by the
general public in carrying out general duties. They are,
however, required for medical personnel when caring for
the sick.
Medical gloves are used by health care personnel to
prevent the spread of infection or illness. Medical gloves
are disposable and include patient examination gloves and
surgeon’s gloves. Gloves are most often made of different
materials, most gloves are made from nitrile rubber, other
materials include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane,
and neoprene. The usual process of manufacture is dip
coating where a hand shaped mandrel is dipped into a
solution of the polymer. A drying process then
follows to either complete the curing process or
drive off the solvent.
Gowns and Face Shields
Figure 3 also displays a disposable overall gown and a
face shield that make up other parts of the PPE required
for use by the medical personnel. Gowns are also
manufactured using the spun bonded process involving
mainly either high density polyethylene or polypropylene.
Face shields are made with a few different materials, for
the lens plate, a clear plastic is required, usually that
is polycarbonate because of its optical clarity and impact
resistance. However, since the main function for face
shields is to to protect the face and the eyes against
contact with the bodily fluids, less costly material such
as polyester (PET) has been used. The headband on the face
shield is usually made from a polyurethane foam that rides
on the forehead and holds the lens plate coupled with an
elastic webbing that goes around the head. In one process
of manufacture, the shield is built from a combination of
processing techniques, sheet extrusion, die molding, foam
die cutting etc.
Figure 3. Gloves, Face shield and an overall gown
Eye Protection
As the risk of spreading the virus is high through the eye
the use of safety glasses and goggles are necessary for
health care workers treating corona virus patients. Eye
protection wear use a variety of plastics in the
construction of the glasses with transparent materials
such as polycarbonates are used for the lenses whereas
softer materials including over molded elastomers for the
frames.
Testing and Treatment
The standard method of diagnosis is by real-time reverse
transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) from a
nasopharyngeal swab. Previous data indicate the material
used in the swab can affect testing because certain tests
work by growing large amounts of the virus using a
reaction called the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR.
The common Q-tips, for instance, do work in this case,
because the cotton on the Q-tip actually contains its own
DNA since it is a plant. A swab used for nasopharyngeal
collection constitutes a narrow stick made of a short
plastic rod that is covered, at one tip, with adsorbing
material such as polyester or nylon. The swabs that are
currently used are nylon or foam. But the FDA’s expansion
of permitted materials to some made of polyester could
help reduce shortages.
Apart from the disposables used in severe case of covid-19
hospitalization, a mechanical ventilator may also be
required to assist the patient in breathing as the virus
attacks the respiratory system and impedes air passage
into the lungs. mechanical ventilator is an automatic
machine designed to provide all or part of the work the
body must do to move gas into and out of the lungs. The
ventilator is connected to a sources of compressed oxygen.
Tubes connect the ventilator to the patient, there are
usually three tubes, inhaled air, patient pressure and
exhaled air, they are usually made from PVC. Within the
ventilators, a number of engineering plastics are used
that are durable under the high stress conditions inside
the functioning of the ventilator. The plastics include,
Nylons, polyether ether ketones (PEEK),
polyacetals etc.
Conclusion
As can be seen, plastics play a vital role in every step
of the way of the covid-19. It plays important roles in
disease prevention, testing and treatment. This pandemic,
unfortunate in many ways, does highlight the increasing
role of plastics in the medical sector and shows the
criticality of the role of plastics in modern
medicine. It is, however, important to not lose
sight of the environmental issues and stress on the
recyclability of plastics. |
