April 17, 2020 - Power management company Eaton activated its additive manufacturing expertise to develop a touchless tool that helps medical workers avoid contact with surfaces and slow the spread of the coronavirus. University Hospitals in Northeast Ohio collaborated on the design and development of the Eaton tool. “The entire community here is indebted to innovative organizations like Eaton, who are flexing their technological muscles and making a difference in these challenging times,” said Brian Rothstein, MD, pediatric neurosurgeon at University Hospitals. A recent study indicates that one of the best defenses of healthcare workers is through barrier protection from surfaces that become contaminated ( Journal of the American Medical Association , March 2020).
Eaton’s four-inch touchless tool resembles a plastic wrench and is intended to help medical workers grab door handles, turn faucets and push buttons on phones and other devices without touching surfaces. Eaton provided the first batch of touchless tools to University Hospitals, where doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and other healthcare workers are using the device. The tool enables University Hospitals to help address concerns associated with contracting the new coronavirus from contaminated surfaces and reduces the number of times healthcare workers need to change protective equipment.
