3D Printed N-95 Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned

Early in 2020, the pandemic resulted in an enormous demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), which consists of face masks, face shields, respirators, and gowns. At our institution, at the request of hospital administration, the Lifespan 3D Printing Laboratory spearheaded an initiative to prod...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of biomedical engineering 2021-12, Vol.49 (12), p.3666-3675
Main Authors: Spake, Carole S. L., Carruthers, Thomas N., Crozier, Joseph W., Kalliainen, Loree K., Bhatt, Reena A., Schmidt, Scott T., Woo, Albert S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3-D printers
Airtightness
Biochemistry
Biological and Medical Physics
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering
Biomedicine
Biophysics
Classical Mechanics
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
COVID-19 - prevention & control
Dispersal
Equipment Design
Humans
Life span
Masks
N95 Respirators
Original
Original Article
Pandemics
Printing, Three-Dimensional
Protective equipment
Respirators
Three dimensional printing
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Summary:Early in 2020, the pandemic resulted in an enormous demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), which consists of face masks, face shields, respirators, and gowns. At our institution, at the request of hospital administration, the Lifespan 3D Printing Laboratory spearheaded an initiative to produce reusable N95 masks for use in the hospital setting. Through this article, we seek to detail our experience designing and 3D printing an N95 mask, highlighting the most important lessons learned throughout the process. Foremost among these, we were successful in producing a non-commercial N95 alternative mask which could be used in an era when N95 materials were extremely limited in supply. We identified five key lessons related to design software, 3D printed material airtightness, breathability and humidity dispersal, and ability for communication. By sharing our experience and the most valuable lessons we learned through this process, we hope to provide a helpful foundation for future 3D-printed N95 endeavors.
ISSN:0090-6964
1573-9686
DOI:10.1007/s10439-021-02859-z