The Investigative Booth - D3LAB




Design has always been about problem solving, and about well-being. This holds true even in the times of a pandemic. Hence, when the world stood still, except for front-line workers who continue to fight, screen, salvage and heal – some designers and engineers have stepped up to support these front liners, through the capacity of design.

World over, the maker movement has woken up to the need of the hour. Open source files for the 3D printing of face vizors and shields for medical professionals are available. Surat based firm D3LAB that finds itself at the confluence of technology, art and architecture took up the manufacturing of these face vizors as an altruistic endeavour – to donate as many face shields as possible to hospitals and medical staff across Surat.
Adapting the basic open source file for 3D printing, they experimented in materials and other technologies like laser cutting to afford them maximum efficiency for production of large numbers is a short time period.
They donated about 550 masks to various medical facilities and gave another 250 at production costs.




   
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This is when they came in touch with the doctors at SMIMER hospital. A close interaction with them and an observation of their methodology for screening, led to a discussion on the need for rapid testing kiosks – along the lines of the South Korean model.
This is when Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), the most experienced doctors from SMIMER Hospital and other officials from housing department of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) came together to bring this team of designers and engineers on board to create booths for rapid screening and mass testing ensuring optimum safety and ease of operation for the doctors.

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In-depth research into existing models, and considering the parameters of their contexts, the team decided to make booths where the doctors remained outside and the patients could walk in, one after the other in completely fumigated and disinfected chambers.
The booths look sterile and secure, friendly and uncluttered so that the apprehensions of the patients are put at ease. Basic human needs of anthropometrics and aesthetics in terms of comfort and reassurance are of prime importance. They tried to ensure that this does not come across as a slap-jack, hastily and clumsily put together solution as they wanted to uphold the human dignity in being treated well and as significant individuals. No compromise was made in the way the materials are used and elements are assembled together, even the communication and messaging around the booth is kept simple, minimalist and elegant.
The entire process of collecting samples takes around 7 to 12 mins per patient. Hence the Kiosk allows to fast forward the process of mass testing while ensuring the comfort and the safety of the doctors to work for longer hours. 



The team had to overcome a lot of challenges – working amid lockdown conditions that meant procurement of materials was challenging. But they were able to put together a state-of-the-art kiosk sourcing and deploying local materials and manufacturing facilities.

This truly was an enthusiastic and collaborative effort where 2 designers came together with 3 engineers for system integration, 5 people team for fabrication and assembly – working seamlessly to put out 5 booths in 3 days (from scratch to a working system)
They are constantly working on improving the efficiency and achieving more booths production in the same time.

Every step of the process and every facet of the final kiosk shouts out the message of its makers, “We care”
This sensitively put together kiosk combined the use of advanced technology while using local resources, thereby making it replicable across cities and states.
The first prototype has been installed at SMIMER hospital in Surat and many more are being sent to Ahmedabad and Mumbai facilities.








COVID 19 ISOLATED MASS TESTING KIOSK is an innovative high-tech design solution with integrated systems for; 
-        Integrated (/Manual) sanitizer mist system, to be operational after every testing cycle
-        Negative pressure cabin system to be operational while testing, to ensure the containment of COVID19 virus.
-        UV light sanitisation system (OPTIONAL), to be operational while the kiosk is not under use
-        Communication device for interaction between patient in the kiosk and the health worker outside.
-        Isolated blood sample collection system.
-        Integrated stethoscope mounting system
-        Automated indicator system for access control.
-        Integrated isolation full arm hand gloves
-        Integrated lockable drain system



https://youtu.be/69jc_wg6JJg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19L8YrJbYg0&t=2s

COVID 19 ISOLATED MASS TESTING KIOSK has been designed and developed by D3LAB and  A Royal Co, Surat.



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