OggieAir - Powered Air Purifying Respirator

Low cost quality PAPR for use by front line health care workers, health professionals and business personnel

We are excited to share information regarding our Powered Air Purifying Respirator solution to be manufactured in our ISO 9001 compliant disability inclusive workspace in Cape Town. This initiative allows us to manufacture local, sustainable, and affordable personal respirators while creating more job opportunities as a Level 2 BBBEE certified employer registered with South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).
Standard PPE such as N95/FFP3 facemasks have limitations including ineffective seal during talking or after prolonged use, face shapes which cannot be adequately fitted, and logistical issues in supply related to rural and remote areas. Furthermore, global stock is low, and issues around diagnostic testing specificity and turnaround time may lead to infectious patients receiving care from health care staff who are not wearing appropriate PPE.
To address acute shortcomings in PPE availability, Shonaquip design team have used the open source concept originating from Southampton University Trust and developed a simple air purified respirator unit, incorporating a combination of inexpensive and widely available local components parts. The prototype is a derivative version designed to minimize the number parts and complexity of manufacturing steps while ensuring excellent quality and reduced cost ensuring that it is bothy appropriate and affordable for use in low resource settings where transmission is proving rapid due to high population densities.

Now more than ever, we need local solutions that address these and future health needs, while ensuring that the most vulnerable of our communities, those with disabilities, those living in poverty, and those who have experienced social and economic barriers to education and resources are empowered to be part of the solution and not this epidemic’s most obvious casualties. Imagine Africa-driven health solutions that create equality.

The OggieAir Personal Respirator delivers HEPA filtered air from a battery powered fan-filter assembly through a lightweight hood/face mask that can be comfortably worn for up to 11 hours. Initial user feedback provided by doctors, nurses and caregivers shows the this product is preferred to standard N95/FFP3 masks, being more comfortable, reducing time lost placing and removing PPE between patients, and allowing better communication.

Market opportunities include front line health care workers in ICU and emergency settings, public and private hospitals, business sector, institutions and care facilities and personal carers and assistance of old people and people with disabilities

The full cover with open faced design enables:
Less anxiety - visability of caregiver/nurse/doctor’s full face
Better communication (wearer’s facial expressions & mouth are visible – hood does not substantially limit wearer’s hearing, lip reading / clarity for sign language interpretation
Reduce face touching
Provides protection for:
People with comorbidities / high risk in the work place
Parents & family of people with comorbidities
Parents & family of people with disabilities
Children & adults with disabilities:
Sensory difficulties for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
People with Intellectual Disability
Elderly patients with Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease
Persons with physical impairments
People with Hearing Impairments
Executives who cannot work from home
Staff with comorbidities who cannot work from home
Cleaning staff
Canteen, Catering, Butcheries
Factory / depot workers
Ambulance workers and paramedics working on the road
Retirement Homes / Homes and institutions for people with disability
Mobile Health Care services (rural areas)
Grant payout stations
Pharmaceutical labs or clean rooms