Chicago Dentist Invents AirGuard™, Designed to Protect Patients & Staff from COVID-19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHICAGO— Dr. James Orrington II, a practicing dentist from Chicago, IL, has invented and developed a product designed to protect an extremely high-risk environment for the transfer of COVID-19: the dentist’s office.
AirGuard™ is a vacuum accessory that blocks aerosol sprays that come from patients’ mouths with a transparent shield. Then, it immediately sucks the spray away using your dental vacuum. AirGuard™ is designed to provide enhanced protection from viruses, infections, and general splashback that spread via the air, such as COVID-19, cold, and flu germs, while also allowing dentists full access to patients without obscuring their visibility or ability to complete dental work.
There are currently three AirGuard™ models available. The AirGuard™ LT is an attachment shield for offices that already have an extra-oral suction unit. The wide, curved barrier is attached to the existing suction system to provide an added layer of protection, preventing splashback. The AirGuard™ MP features an adjustable transparent shield, extra-oral suction unit, and integrated lighting for maximum visibility when working with patients. Finally, the AirGuard™ XP adds extra-oral lighting, precision lighting system, and a built-in screen that adds magnification and a high-definition camera to capture video and still images that can be used for diagnosis, insurance claims, or just a better look into the mouth.
“COVID-19 forced our practice to close down in March 2020,” says AirGuard™’s inventor, Dr. James Orrington II. “I wanted to build a solution that would let dental practices operate in a way that was safe for everyone involved, allowing them to reopen and continue offering the vital care that patients need and the livelihoods that dentists and their staff depend on.”
To refine and develop the idea, Dr. Orrington II partnered with Beyond Design, Inc., a Chicago-based product development firm. Together, they garnered feedback from current and future dental environments and trends and worked to create a versatile solution that would be effective in a range of office types, sizes, and settings. The design even accounts for potential use in veterinary offices.
“We had some key features we knew needed to be included in the final product,” said Beyond Design’s president, Michael Prince. “It had to be easy to install and transport, it had to be safe, intuitive, reliable, and functional, and it had to be easy to service and maintain. We were proud to be able to work on a project that was challenging, urgent, and genuinely important for public benefit during a challenging time.”
For more information about AirGuard™ visit their website: www.AirGuard™Health.com.