3D printing could prove a lifesaver in helping treat coronavirus
3D printing could be a lifesaver in the face of supply shortages caused by coronavirus, with a 3D printer providing vital medical supplies to an Italian hospital.
The hospital in Brescia – located in an area of northern Italy suffering at the hands of the virus outbreak – was running out of replacement valves for ‘reanimation’ machines which provide desperately needed respiratory aid to those who have contracted coronavirus.
With no way to get replacement valves thanks to the supplier running out of stock – another side-effects of the virus – the solution was to use a 3D printer.
A company by the name of Isinnova responded to a call for help from Massimo Temporelli (founder of The FabLab in Milan), and Isinnova’s CEO, Cristian Fracassi, personally brought a 3D printer into the hospital, managing to replicate and produce the missing valve.
The very next day, Saturday, March 14, these 3D-printed replacements were proved to work, and 10 patients were soon on functioning machines that helped them breathe while using a part produced by the 3D printer.
Vital replacements
Doubtless there will be other cases where replacements for vital equipment are needed, and may indeed be provided by 3D printing – a lot of lives could be potentially saved.
More valves were being produced by another printing outfit, Lonati SpA – as pictured in the above image – except in this case they are using a polymer laser powder bed fusion process (as opposed to filament extrusion, which was employed by Isinnova’s CEO).
3D printing could be a lifesaver in the face of supply shortages caused by coronavirus, with a 3D printer providing vital medical supplies to an Italian hospital. The hospital in Brescia – located in an area of northern Italy suffering at the hands of the virus outbreak – was running…
Recent Posts
- Five ways to keep up with the AI revolution
- Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath on life after Volvo and weathering the EV slowdown
- Doctor Who is back, louder and more chaotic than before
- Best Kids Tablets (2024): iPads, Amazon Fire Kids Tablets, and More
- A dangerous new malware is targeting Macs of all kinds — here’s how to stay safe
Archives
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- December 2011