Many of you are aware that there are significant healthcare challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The university has received multiple requests from sources ranging from New York State officials to individuals seeking assistance ranging from 3D printing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as N95 masks to designing and building respirators or respirator parts.
It is important to know that due to potential liability not covered by insurance, we are not authorized to provide any Clarkson-manufactured prototype device, 3D printed or otherwise, to the medical community for use by healthcare providers or use in patient care. However, that should not stop us from brainstorming and innovating solutions that may eventually receive proper review and approvals.
Thus far the University has responded to New York State requests through the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (https://www.cicu.org/), offering our expertise in aerosols and fine particle testing and our capability to design and manufacture engineering prototypes. The university is also supporting faculty research teams to develop proposals in response to calls for advanced research to defeat COVID-19. Additionally, a large donation of PPE from various university laboratories was recently made to Canton Potsdam Hospital.
The outpouring of suggestions and goodwill has been wonderful and we would like to channel this energy to make a difference. We are prioritizing and coordinating our responses based on: 1) sound science and technology; 2) the needs of federal, state, and local emergency management and health care agencies; and 3) the technical expertise and capability of the university.
Open Sessions
Join us this evening, Friday, March 27 at 5:00pm for an open session to learn about the needs that have been communicated to us by federal and state agencies and the local health care system to address COVID-19 and brainstorm how you might help us, as a university community, to potentially address those needs. Zoom information can be found below.
This session will be moderated by Bill Jemison, Dean of Engineering and Erin Draper, Managing Director, Clarkson Ignite. The need for additional sessions will be discussed on the call.
An example discussion topic may be the severe shortage of N95 masks. It is important to note that there are many DIY mask projects on the Internet that the public and health professionals may be tempted to try, with potentially disastrous effects. We encourage anyone interested in brainstorming about making N95 masks to understand the technology. Here is one place to start: https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2009/10/14/n95/.
We look forward to your participation!
Zoom Information: Friday, March 27, 2020, 5:00-6:00pm
https://clarkson.zoom.us/j/856676886
Meeting ID: 856 676 886
One tap mobile: +16468769923,,856676886# US (New York)