News
Made In Space 3D Printing PPE to Help in the Fight Against COVID-19
April 08, 2020 | Categories: COVID19, Member News
Image: 3D printed face shields at Made In Space headquarters waiting to be packed and distributed to local-area hospitals.
Made In Space (MIS) is helping in the fight against COVID-19 by providing frontline healthcare workers with much-needed supplies and equipment.
MIS facilities in Jacksonville, FL and Moffett Field, CA are using our additive manufacturing resources to provide hundreds of 3D printed face shields to local-area hospitals to augment the shortage of critical personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies.
The design includes a 3D printed frame with an adjustable headband that allows a clear plastic face shield to be easily snapped onto the frame. Over 200 masks have been produced over the last 5 days and are being distributed to local-area hospitals in Jacksonville, FL and Mountain View, CA.
The worldwide shortage of PPE such as face shields, medical masks, and gowns increases the risk of exposure for healthcare personnel who are ill-equipped to care for COVID-19 patients. Hospitals and frontline workers are frantically implementing crisis capacity strategies to manage the inadequate supply of PPE and medical equipment.
“In times of crisis it is important for everyone to come together and we have an obligation to support those on the front lines,” said MIS Chief Engineer Michael Snyder. “Our team is using every available 3D printing resource we have to produce face shields to support our local healthcare personnel.”
MIS is engaging its engineering, manufacturing and design expertise to assess additional solutions to help in the fight. MIS engineers worked with local-area doctors in Jacksonville, FL to quickly develop a rapid response ventilator adapter to enable a single ventilator to safely support multiple patients in extreme situations. Additional details on Made In Space’s continuing efforts to support the cause will be shared on the company blog at madeinspace.us/blog.
Courtesy of Made in Space