So far, so good.
Respiratory therapists of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) have expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute’s (DOST-ITDI) valved holding chambers (VHCs) that can be used by both coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and non-COVID patients.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said six respiratory therapists of PCMC conducted the performance evaluation of the VHCs that were designed and 3D printed at Materials Development (MATDEV) Laboratory of the DOST-ITDI.
"The purpose of the evaluation was to check for observable changes in the VHCs after sterilization and application of aerosol medicine,” he said in a report.
"All six respiratory therapists reported no observable changes in the VHCs after sterilization or application of aerosol medicine using the following parameters: presence of cracks, became brittle, color change, presence of color and chalking (formation of powdery substance),” he noted.
He said the "favorable results” prodded some of the respiratory therapists to try the VHCs to administer aerosol medicine to their patients.
"The VHC can be used by ventilated COVID-19, PUI (patient under investigation), and non-COVID 19 patients each time their medication is administered through a metered dosed inhaler,” the DOST chief said.
"It is also used to ensure that most of the medicine ends up in the lungs, instead of the mouth or stomach,” he added.