Disinfecting device approved to combat mask shortage

On Monday, March 30, President Donald Trump explained during an afternoon press conference that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved late Sunday night a new disinfection device designed by Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio, that has the ability to clean approximately 120,000 N95 masks per day. The FDA had previously placed restrictions on the use of the device. Yet Ohio Governor Mike DeWine spent Sunday doing everything he could to force approval in light of personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages faced by healthcare workers.

According to the president, Battelle’s device makes it possible for facilities to re-use every mask up to 20 times. Battelle utilizes a hydrogen peroxide vapor to decontaminate masks and then sends them back to their original locations at hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Once a mask has been damaged or processed at least 20 times, it’s then disposed of per regulations.

Ohio currently has in use two of the devices. One has also been set up in New York. Battelle will soon be shipping additional ones to Washington, D.C., and Seattle, Washington.

Battelle president and CEO Lou Von Thaer stated, “I want to thank the FDA team for their professionalism and help in authorizing the use of our technology at this critical moment for our nation.”

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-30-20-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200329/coronavirus-fda-provides-full-ok-for-battelle-mask-sterilizing-technology
https://www.whio.com/news/local/batelle-receives-fda-approval-160k-masks-will-sanitized-ohio-each-day/tUAY92DHF0WLjcHWh0ehiO/