SINGAPORE - In light of the global shortage of surgical masks and personal protective equipment, local defence technology body Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) has created a new face shield for personnel on the front lines of the fight against the new coronavirus.
Called FaceProtect+, the face shield is adjustable and reusable, and protects users and the people they interact with against accidental fluid splashes and droplets, the agency said in a press release on Tuesday (April 14).
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said: "The face shields were developed... in double quick time to address the potential shortage of masks, where priority should rightly go to healthcare workers."
He highlighted that "we are not dependent on any country to get them" as they are produced locally, adding that DSTA has already started working on an improved model based on feedback.
The agency is working with Racer Technology, a medical device manufacturer, to produce the face shields here, and is currently supplying them to various public agencies, including the Ministry of Defence and the Singapore Armed Forces, the Ministry of Manpower and the Land Transport Authority.
"The FaceProtect+ has an adjustable frame that caters to different face sizes, including bespectacled wearers, making it more ergonomic to use," DSTA said in the press release.
The FaceProtect+ has a wider, longer and thicker visor as compared with commercial off-the-shelf versions, which increases coverage of the user's face and makes it more resilient for use outdoors where winds may be strong.
It can be washed with soap and water after each use and subsequently reused. The visors can be replaced in case there is wear and tear.
The face shield was created by DSTA engineers to address the supply shortage.
Mr Shawn Chew, senior engineer from the National Security Programme Centre in DSTA, said: "With the heightened demand for PPE, our engineers started to design and prototype a cost-effective, lightweight and reusable face shield that offers an extra layer of protection for our front-line workers."
The team developed the first 3D printed prototype of the face shield in one week and produced the first batch in another four. This included "soliciting users' input, modifying the design and working with the manufacturer to finalise the tooling set up and material selection", explained Mr Chew.
While it declined to reveal how many face shields it has produced so far, DSTA said it is working with the manufacturer to meet any "essential demands" that are received.
"We are not at liberty to reveal costs and production details, but we managed to keep costs low due to economies of scale and local production," added Mr Chew.
Dr Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious diseases expert who practices at Rophi Clinic at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, said that such face shields provide basic protection but still have to be supplemented with surgical masks for full effectiveness against the coronavirus, since droplets can still get under the shield.
"It helps with the first line of defence, which is the splash of saliva and respiratory secretions," he explained.
"For the face shield to be effective, it will still have to be used together with face masks. However, because it blocks the splashes, it can extend the lifespan of the N95 or surgical mask," said Dr Leong.
