The device was developed in the Department of Biomechatronics of the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology within the framework of the Rector's grant of the Silesian University of Technology to limit COVID-19 spread. The device is an answer to the current problems of Polish hospitals. The project has been recognised and awarded in the Innowator Śląska 2021 competition in the Research and Development Sector Institution category. In addition to this distinction, the Silesian University of Technology was granted the right to use the Innowator Śląska logo for a period of 2 years.

„The system is designed to protect both medical staff and patients during interventional cardiology procedures or routine diagnostic procedures such as X-ray, electrocardiography, ultrasound, or echocardiography. Its task is to isolate the patient's upper respiratory tract and to filter and eliminate sources of infection from the exhaled air. The system has been designed in such a way as to cause as little obstruction as possible during medical procedures, therefore the dimensions of the shield have been minimised as much as possible. It does not block X-rays and a specially designed system of locks enables its quick removal in the event of the need to react immediately to a change in the patient's condition. The device cleans and filters the air exhaled by the patient and kills pathogenic microorganisms and other pathogens. The cleaned and sterilised air is then returned to the room" says Kamil Joszko, PhD, from the Department of Biomechatronics at the Silesian University of Technology.

The Tholos system was developed by a team of researchers from the Department of Biomechatronics of the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology consisting of: Prof. Marek Gzik, Prof. Wojciech Wolański, Prof. Piotr Buszman, Prof. Marcin Kaczmarek, Bożena Gzik-Zroska, PhD, Kamil Joszko, PhD, Sławomir Suchoń, PhD, Michał Burkacki, PhD, Miłosz Chrzan, PhD, M.Sc. Marek Ples, M.Sc. Grzegorz Gruszka.

The Tholos system has already been commercialised in cooperation with Technomex Sp. z o.o. and is ready for implementation in medical units. At the moment, it is being tested in one of the hospitals in the Silesian region.