By Beth E. Stanton, EAA 1076326
Charlie Spinelli, EAA 491973, is known for his brilliant science experiments, as outlined in the feature “A Very Storied VariViggen” in the March 2020 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine. But his innovations aren’t limited to the world of aviation: In less than a week’s time, he went from prototype to patent pending for the Modified Positive Airway Pressure (M-PAP) device. M-PAP is an alternative for respiratory treatment for COVID-19 patients that uses Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) devices commonly used to treat sleep apnea.
PAP devices were being explored as an alternative intermediate step for noninvasive ventilation. However, a problem with using PAP machines would be the expiratory phase of ventilation that would contaminate the air with aerosolized virus.
The M-PAP device is a closed system that contains the expiratory air from the patient and filters input air to prevent the virus from entering the patient’s lungs. A unique characteristic of M-PAP is the ability to employ any PAP device, any filter concept, and any approved face mask.
Its design is enabled by a set of inspiratory and expiratory 3D printed hose adapters that are compatible with any type of FDA-approved sealed face mask, such as a standard 3M 6100 respirator mask or surgical oxygen mask. The filters used in the prototype are standard 3M bayonet-mount, high-efficiency P100 filters capable of capturing 99.9 percent of particles down to 0.3 microns.
Charlie, a former Boeing associate technical fellow, is in collaboration for his project with the NIH and physicians in the U.K. He is in the process of applying for funding grants and hopes to have the devices ready by June. One of the doctors incredulously asked him, “Now just what was it that you did at Boeing?”