3D Printing and COVID-19, April 24, 2020 Update

27 Apr, 2020

The University of Michigan and Michigan Medicine have designed a 3D printable, personalized ventilator splitting device which makes it possible to tailor air pressure to multiple patients from a single ventilator unit. The VentMI device helps to address the most crucial issue with the vent splitters we have seen designed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fact that each patient needs specific rates of pressure to perform effective treatment and not further damage their respiratory systems.

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Origin, whose 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swabs are a part of a successful clinical trial for SARS-CoV-2 testing, has signed an agreement with Stratasys to promote Origin NP O1 Swabs to healthcare providers and testing centers in the U.S. According to the partners, the Origin One 3D printer can produce 1,500 swabs at a time with the possibility of multiple machines making 190,000 per day or 1.3 million per week.

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Community Health Network, a healthcare network in Indiana, has an interesting story about the current status of personal protection equipment (PPE) demand. The group’s desktop technician, Mark Nix, started out making face shields using his desktop printers, but has shifted to ear savers, that is devices for preventing chaffing of the ears of healthcare workers who wear face masks all day. In addition to making 200 such tools daily, Nix is working with 30 other caregivers to expand his work.


In Philadelphia, a coalition of representatives from hospitals, universities, manufacturers, government and small businesses is providing PPE to local healthcare providers. The group, CoverAid PHL, has so far provided 4,500 masks to 13 organizations. What’s perhaps most interesting about the group’s work is that the masks are not made using 3D printing, demonstrating that low-tech may often be preferable to high-tech solutions. The group is sewing fabric masks using a standard design that is widely accepted.



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