3D Printables Responding to Demand of Dwindling PPE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Businesses and hobbyists are designing and producing multiple forms of PPE to meet the increased demand posed by Covid-19. Maker Mask is a Seattle nonprofit devoted to making reusable protective masks with ordinary 3D printers. Rory Larson, an expert in 3D printing with over 10 years of experience created a mask that functions with replaceable HEPA filter and other easily available parts. Consisting of nineteen, 3-D printable parts, a single mask can be manufactured in three hours at a cost of $2 - $3 with most 3D printers. Components and instructions are readily available at the Maker Mask website (1).

 

The Maker Mask is currently undergoing approval from the NIH and has yet to be evaluated by the FDA. However, the mask is currently being used at Seattle Children’s Hospital (2). Additionally, universities are trying to meet growing needs (3). The Mercer School of Engineering is also developing a prototype, reusable-surgical mask while faculty from the University of Northern Colorado and the University of North Carolina making face shields to help with protection (4,5,6).