As the local community has grappled with the effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Innovation Hub, previously a dedicated prototyping center in the Statler College, has quickly transformed into a testing and small-scale production facility critical to supporting the shortfall of personal protective equipment in West Virginia and beyond.

As of April 20, engineers Kolin Brown, Josh Bintrim, Kelsey Crawford, Jeremy Gouzd, Gene Cilento, Jim Hall and Logan Forquer, in a collaborative effort, have produced over 10,000 surgical mask extenders, 3,500 face shields and 60 intubation boxes to local medical facilities. In addition, the Hub has made the templates for the mask extenders and face shields publicly available in hopes that companies who have the capacity to undergo mass distribution will contribute to this humanitarian effort.

As manufacturing centers across the nation are stepping in to create personal protective equipment, the supplies used to produce them are dwindling. If you have access to or know those who may have access, the Innovation Hub is in need of the following:

• Sheets of 0.03-inch or 0.04-inch polycarbonate
• Sheets of .125-inch polycarbonate
• Cones of spun poly thread, size T-40 in white
• Sheets of Halyard Sterilization Wrap – H400

We ask that if you have connections to obtaining these materials, you please consider donating them to the Innovation Hub. Please reach out to Gene Cilento at Statler-iHub@mail.wvu.edu or by phone at 304-293-4088 if you would like to donate materials or have questions about templates.

I am extremely proud of the hard work, dedication and determination as demonstrated by our team in the four stories below. Our engineers have truly embodied the Mountaineer spirit by coming together to support our local health care workers in these challenging times.

Sincerely,

Earl Scime, Interim Dean

A global pandemic, a worried wife and a campus that, like its home state, is full of connections, were the impetus for protective devices that were created at WVU and are now being used by a variety of health care professionals at WVU Medicine J. W. Ruby Memorial Hospital.

When the director of WVU’s Innovation Hub heard about a massive mask making effort underway next door at the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, he knew engineers in the Statler College could help. So, Gene Cilento asked Elizabeth Shorrock, visiting assistant professor of fashion, dress and merchandising, to partner on a project to test materials for medical-grade masks that would support health care professionals at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital.

Engineers in the Statler College are using their expertise and equipment in a campus-wide effort to create personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep up with the needs of health care providers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Downloadable face shield templates are included in the article.

The Innovation Hub, a prototyping center in the Statler College, has successfully created surgical mask extenders to be used by health care professionals. Downloadable surgical mask extender template included in the article.

As the Statler College officially moved its classes online on March 30th to slow the community spread of COVID-19, we asked our faculty and staff members to share supportive messages with our College community, most importantly, our students. As we handle this transition together, we want to invite you to follow us on social media to stay connected with us. Check out the ‘Quarantine Cam’ posts from faculty and staff on our Instagram, recent stories from the College, games and Feature Fridays that showcase some of our amazing students on our Facebook and Twitter. We have recently created a public LinkedIn account and hope to stay in touch with you as you progress on your career path.

MAILING ADDRESS:
Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources | West Virginia University
1374 Evansdale Drive | P.O. Box 6070 | Morgantown, WV 26506-6070
PHONE: 304.293.4821 | EMAIL: engineeringwv@mail.wvu.edu

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