Innovation at King’s

We shine a spotlight on some of the innovative work led by King’s Researchers in response to COVID-19.

Personalised PPE: Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences

Researchers have turned their expertise in 3D imaging, skin-material interfaces and additive manufacture towards problems regarding the adequate fit and long-term wear of key workers’ high-filtration face masks.

Supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Birmingham, they’ve rapidly developed a process using smartphone-based imaging and automated customisation to create a new concept for protective face masks. Offering enhanced fit, comfort and effectiveness, prototypes are now undergoing rigorous testing.

OxVent ventilator programme: Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences and Basic & Medical Biosciences

The OxVent group is comprised of scientists, clinicians and medical technology manufacturers from King’s College London, the University of Oxford and UK manufacturing company Smith+Nephew. It mobilised quickly in response to the early anticipated need for ventilators to support the NHS in treating patients with COVID-19.

The OxVent ventilator was developed to be produced at speed and scale, at a significantly lower cost than alternatives. Conceived as an open source, notfor-profit project, the team remains committed to this vision and is reviewing options to make it available in other countries where needs are still pressing.

COVID-19 Symptom Tracker: Life Sciences & Medicine and Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences

Our researchers have been working day and night to better understand COVID-19 – from how it spreads, to new symptoms. Researchers from King’s have joined forces to help analyse the data acquired through the COVID-19 Symptom Study app, produced by Boston and London-based health science company Zoe.

The app uses advanced statistical tools and machine learning capability to provide predictions on severity, required treatment, healthcare burden and future resources requirement, as well as collateral effects.