PETE (Patient isolation and transportation chamber)

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the patient isolation chamber is crucial as it helps reduce the infection, numbers of medical personnel while transferring patients, and time, as well as protect their safety while taking good care of the patients. Thailand also suffered from the expensive cost of the imported medical equipment, especially the patient isolation chamber. However, this device still possesses a number of limitations, for examples, it can not be put into an X-ray machine and requires cleaning every time after use.

MTEC research team, therefore, has developed PETE (Patient Isolation and Transportation Chamber), a device for transferring patients with respiratory tract problems. The PETE consists of 2 main parts; the first one is a clear plastic patient isolator that fits the patients’ body, and the second part is a negative pressure unit designed to control the air circulation inside the chamber when the patient is placed inside, and the zipper is closed. The PETE unit has an automatic pressure adjustment system to allow the outside air to flow into the chamber, so that the patient can breathe normally. A HEPA Filter personnel use the PETE to move patients from place to place, it will not only help limit the spread of infection but also reduce the risk towards the medical personnel and other people in the hospital.

Therefore, PETE developed by MTEC is an innovative device that will suit the manufacturers to develop and produce local medical devices. At present, MTEC had delivered 26 sets of PETE to the various institutions like Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Erawan Field Hospital 2 of Wetchakarunrasm Hospital, Ruamnamjai (Klongtoey) Foundation, Vibhavadi Hospital, and Saint Mary’s Hospital to support the medical personnel during the relocation of COVID-19 patients to various places. At present, PETE is a Thai research result that passed the ISO 14644 and in the process of establishing the IEC 60601-1, and Suprera Innovation Co., Ltd. is recently a licensee for the technology transfer of PETE’s production and distribution.

Research team

Dr.-Ing. Sarawut Lerspalungsanti, Pornpipat Yoosa, , Dr.-Ing. Chadchai Srisurangkul, Prasit Wattanawongsakun, Teerapong Boonma, Perakit Viriyarattanasak, Narongrit Suebnunta, Foifon Srisawat, Dr. Jomkwun Munnae