3D Printing of Face Shields During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Technical Note

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic. 1 COVID-19 concentrates in the upper airway mucosa 2 ; thus, procedures involving this location are considered high risk. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) worldwide. Professional additive manufacturing providers, makers, and designers in the 3-dimensional (3D) printing community have posted free COVID-19-related 3D printer designs on their websites. 1,3 Most oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMSs) are familiar with 3D printing technology.We describe our method of using a 3D printer to print face shields to protect OMSs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mass-production and Distribution of Medical Face Shields Using Additive Manufacturing and Injection Molding Process for Healthcare System Support During COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil

“…Many countries around the world have used the FDM process to produce cost-effective medical face shields [35][36][41][42][43][44][45][46]. However, due to process' heterogeneity, some devices have been produced with no standardized procedure or medical approval.…”

“…However, due to process' heterogeneity, some devices have been produced with no standardized procedure or medical approval. Face shields were adapted for oral and maxillofacial surgeons [41] and the radiology sector [45] with a design that makes cleaning a di cult activity. Face shields with very thin frames are more fragile, they can break during transportation or use, and are less comfortable and reliable.…”

3D-printed contact-free devices designed and dispatched against the COVID-19 pandemic: The 3D COVID initiative

“…Additive manufacturing was central in this effort to promptly obtain a large array of devices with different geometries. In fact, current 3D printers such as fused deposition modelling (FDM), stereolithography (SLA) and polyjet technologies allow both fast prototyping and reliable production [2][3][4][5]. Here we report the design, production and dispatch processes of three 3D-printed objects:…”

Improvising the surgical helmet system for aerosol-generating procedures in the OR: Surgeon designed 3D printed mould for augmented filtration system

“…1) have all shown to produce aerosols that vary in size from 0.7 to 5 mm 1,3 Surgical helmet systems are routinely used by arthroplasty surgeons to reduce the peri-operative infection rates and were also used as personal protective equipment. 2e4 However, their use during COVID 19 pandemic 5 is not recommended by the manufacturers and the orthopaedic community. 6,7 While Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation recommended that healthcare workers wear an N 95 mask with a face shield while performing AGP, 8 there are no clear guidelines in orthopaedics on how to augment the protection while performing AGP.…”