This PAPR was named VitaFlo and was made in Renewable Energy Laboratory, Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering ITB. The research team of this device was led by Dr. Yuli Setyo Indartono.

The second version of this device will be donated to hospitals in West Java, Central Java, East Java, Sumatra, and Borneo (unconfirmed). The development of this device was supported by the Institute for Innovation Development and Entrepreneurship (LPIK) ITB and Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) ITB.

Dr. Yuli said that there are two main components of this device, the box blower and filter to flow and filter the incoming air, and the full-face protector. The air is channeled through a hose (medical grade) from the blower to the full-face protector.
"The airflow that enters the full-face mask causes the inside of the mask to have a higher air pressure than the atmosphere outside. Thus, preventing bacterial/virus contamination coming from outside," he said.

For its use, VitaFlo is equipped with a battery that can last up to 5 hours and 30 minutes. Bu using VitaFlo, health workers no longer need to wear masks, goggles, and face shields, but the other PPEs are still used. “After this tool is available, health workers no longer need to wear PPEs on the face area. InsyaAllah, VitaFlo is enough,” he explained.

Filtration Capability of Around 97 Percent

Explained by Dr. Yuli, VitaFlo is a PAPR-typed personnel protective equipment (PPE) device that integrates the function of a mask, face shield, and protective goggles.

The function of this VitaFlo device has passed multiple testing. The first test was carried out in the SITH laboratory to see how well the device filters the bacteria and viruses. "The result is excellent," he said. The effectivity of the bacteria filter is 99.9 percent for bacteria size of 0.5-2 um and 97% for particles smaller than 0.1 um (virus size), based on testing at the SITH ITB laboratory.

Another test was carried out in the Renewable Energy Laboratory FTMD to check the speed of airflow entering the full-face mask. The test result shows that the device has met the standard.

Initial Ideas of the Device

Dr. Yuli said that the initial ideas of this device came from their sympathy when seeing the health worker wearing multiple layers of PPE in the face area. This was deemed impractical, stuffy, and uncomfortable. From there came the idea to make VitaFlow that is easier to use and much simpler. "I was inspired to make a facemask, but if it is not equipped with a blower there will be leakage from the side because the air pressure is not positive. That's why we added air supply using blower & filter," he explained.

In the future, this device will not only be useful to the health worker but can also be used by industrial workers who are often exposed to dust and dangerous particle. VitaFlo is excellent in filtering small particles.

"We choose the industrial version of the filter, so there will be no shortage when the medical filter is highly sought after. The filtration capability is the same, but we chose the industrial version because its availability is better," he said.

Meanwhile, the result of this innovational research will be partnered with PT Rekayasa Inovasi ITB. PT Rekayasa Inovasi ITB will help the team find an industrial partner so that ViraFlo can be mass-produced by the industry.

Translator: Favian Aldilla R (Civil Engineering, 2019)