PeRSo 1.0, PPE respirator

The PeRSo started as a conversation between University of Southampton colleagues, Paul Elkington, a professor of respiratory medicine and Hywel Morgan, a professor of bioelectronics. Elkington wanted to find a better way of protecting his colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bringing together a team from across the University of Southampton, their first prototype went from concept to reality in a week. By 31 March 2020, INDO Lighting on behalf of Baynum Limited stepped up to the challenge to mass produce the items, temporarily pausing their normal production of street lighting. 18 months later over 20,000 PeRSos are in use across 20 NHS Trusts.

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Personal Protect Equipment (PPE) was the only way for healthcare workers to protect themselves. A shortage and some concerns over quality of PPE dominated media headlines. The Southampton team developed a type of powered air purifying respirator (PAPR). A battery-operated fan circulates air, passing it through an inbuilt filter. This cleaner air is delivered to the user through a flexible tube into a hood. The hood also protects the eyes and this example gives easy access to the ears to use equipment such as stethoscopes.

INDO Lighting temporarily paused production on their usual business – street lighting, horticulture lighting and railway lighting to produce the PeRSo.

The PeRSo started as a conversation between University of Southampton colleagues, Paul Elkington, a professor of respiratory medicine and Hywel Morgan, a professor of bioelectronics. Elkington wanted to find a better way of protecting his colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bringing together a team from across the University of Southampton, their first prototype went from concept to reality in a week. By 31 March 2020, INDO Lighting on behalf of Baynum Limited stepped up to the challenge to mass produce the items, temporarily pausing their normal production of street lighting. 18 months later over 20,000 PeRSos are in use across 20 NHS Trusts.

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Personal Protect Equipment (PPE) was the only way for healthcare workers to protect themselves. A shortage and some concerns over quality of PPE dominated media headlines. The Southampton team developed a type of powered air purifying respirator (PAPR). A battery-operated fan circulates air, passing it through an inbuilt filter. This cleaner air is delivered to the user through a flexible tube into a hood. The hood also protects the eyes and this example gives easy access to the ears to use equipment such as stethoscopes.

INDO Lighting temporarily paused production on their usual business – street lighting, horticulture lighting and railway lighting to produce the PeRSo.

The PeRSo started as a conversation between University of Southampton colleagues, Paul Elkington, a professor of respiratory medicine and Hywel Morgan, a professor of bioelectronics. Elkington wanted to find a better way of protecting his colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bringing together a team from across the University of Southampton, their first prototype went from concept to reality in a week. By 31 March 2020, INDO Lighting on behalf of Baynum Limited stepped up to the challenge to mass produce the items, temporarily pausing their normal production of street lighting. 18 months later over 20,000 PeRSos are in use across 20 NHS Trusts.

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Personal Protect Equipment (PPE) was the only way for healthcare workers to protect themselves. A shortage and some concerns over quality of PPE dominated media headlines. The Southampton team developed a type of powered air purifying respirator (PAPR). A battery-operated fan circulates air, passing it through an inbuilt filter. This cleaner air is delivered to the user through a flexible tube into a hood. The hood also protects the eyes and this example gives easy access to the ears to use equipment such as stethoscopes.

INDO Lighting temporarily paused production on their usual business – street lighting, horticulture lighting and railway lighting to produce the PeRSo.