Malaysian-made COVID-19 innovations
COVID-19 innovations
Image adapted from: Penang Flash News & Kenneth Lim
Malaysia is on its 3rd week of Movement Control Order (MCO) and social media has been abuzz with feel-good stories of Malaysians helping each other out. Be it giving out free sanitisers and masks or DIY-ing protective gear for our frontliners, everyone can play a part in combating the COVID-19 plight.
Likewise, Malaysians are really setting things into motion by inventing a slew of things that’ll make fighting the virus all the more efficient. From testing booths and sanitising chambers, to protective gear for medical staff, these are some of the COVID-19 innovations Malaysians have come up with:
Read up on COVID-19-related updates below:
- M’sia chosen by WHO for COVID treatment
- COVID-19 facility is fully equipped and can house 580 patients
- Robots and drones to be used for disinfection
- Drive through COVID-19 screenings in M’sia
1. VirusBuster NanoSpray – Quick 1 minute automated sanitation
Image adapted from: ZullDesign Autotronic
VirusBuster NanoSpray is a cool name for a sanitation device, and the invention looks like an entrance into a spaceship. This high tech booth was invented by 3 local engineers at ZullDesign Autotronic (ZDA). They came up with this device with the intention to help keep the public safe while out running errands.
This device works by misting disinfectant on an individual and the whole process takes only about a minute to cover your entire body from head to toe. According to the company’s Facebook page, it can be found at the Malakat Mall in Cyberjaya. Recently, Mydin grocery announced that they have also installed the VirusBuster at their outlet in USJ1.
2. COV Shield Prototype 1 – Protective barrier for health professionals
Image credit: Kenneth Lim
Take one look at these boxes and one might mistake them as a gondola. But this is actually the COV Shield Prototype 1 and it will keep health personnel safe from contracting the virus while examining the public. This is the brain child of Kenneth Lim and his team who developed and then donated the booth to the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) in Kuala Lumpur.
Image credit: Kenneth Lim
Kenneth got the inspiration after seeing South Korea use something similar. After taking advice from medical professionals, the team developed an isolated screening booth. It has special gloves you can access from the outside which keeps contact with a potentially infected patient to a minimum.
The team has already started on the second prototype and plans to release the blueprint to the public so others can build something similar.
3. Disinfection Chambers – Free sanitation for market goers
Image credit: Penang Flash News
This disinfectant chamber is the first for Penang and was thought up by John Ooh Sin Hwa who is the secretary-general of The Penang Rural Industry Entrepreneur Organisation. This device was introduced to the public on 1st April 2020 and placed at the Balik Pulau Market due to the market’s high foot traffic.
Image credit: Penang Flash News
The chamber works by using sensors that will detect when a person has stepped in and will automatically spray disinfectant over the entire body. This inspiration came from China where similar methods have been used to quickly disinfect locals.
4. 13S Cubicle – Creates a safe barrier for COVID-19 testing
Image adapted from: Bernama
The 13S cubicle is the invention of Dr Ahmed Kamarulzaman who started work on the COVID-19 testing booth on 2nd April 2020. It was finally completed and unveiled at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) in Kuantan and placed in front of the emergency unit.
The idea behind the booth was to ensure the safety of the hospital’s healthcare professionals. It works by using special gloves that are located between a barrier that will separate the health personnel and the patient.
Dr Kamarulzaman has already gotten many requests for his booth to be placed in other healthcare facilities but at the moment they are still waiting on funding as each box costs approximately RM13,000.
5. Intubation boxes – Shields medical staff during intubation procedures
Image credit: Firdaus Hariri
This Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) intubation box was developed by Professor Dr Firdaus Hariri of the University Malaya dentistry faculty.
He developed it after being inspired by Taiwanese doctor, Dr Lai Hsien Yung. Dr Lai developed these boxes with the same intentions, to help shield medical personnel when they’re performing intubation procedures on a COVID-19 patient with respiratory problems.
Image credit: Malay Mail
The box is made of out transparent acrylic that goes over the patient’s head and has two arm holes that allow the healthcare workers to move their hands about freely. And, according to Dr Lai, the boxes can be reused after each procedure with thorough disinfecting.
Image credit: Bernama
Another version of the aerosol boxes was created by engineer Ir. Mohd Azwan Aziz and they function just like the intubation boxes made by Professor Dr Firdaus Hariri.
Image credit: Bernama
He has managed to produce 50 aerosol boxes that’ve been distributed to several hospitals and health clinics in Putrajaya, Serdang and Selayang. According to Ir. Azwan, his team is able to produce 10 boxes a day and they have already acquired the help of an NGO to help distribute more boxes to other health facilities.
6. Automated disinfection chambers – Eliminates viruses using motion sensors
COVID-19 innovations at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Image credit: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
This automated disinfectant chamber was developed by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia along with the help of their team of researchers and students of the School of Biomedical Engineering and Health Science. It was developed to be used by the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) and 10 boxes have already been built and set up.
Image credit: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
This automated machine works by using motion sensors and fluid mechanics to spray and disinfect the individual inside.
According to UTMs deputy vice chancellor for Research and Innovation Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, this machine can effectively disinfect 99% of an individual’s body. On top of that, it is lightweight, which makes it easy to move around when needed.
Malaysian COVID-19 innovations to flatten the curve
Besides the ones above, there are more individuals who are in the process of developing their own versions of COVID-19 testing booths. This includes a COMBAT (Coronavirus Mobile Test Unit) container inspired by South Korea’s innovations that’s designed for quick COVID-19 screenings in air-con comfort.
These COVID-19 innovations not only make screening processes more efficient, but also protect frontliners who’re exposed to the virus each day. It’s refreshing to see such efforts like these from the rakyat who are committed to help flatten the curve of COVID-19.
Check out things you can do while staying at home during MCO:
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