[Fighting the epidemic]Markforged 3D printed protective mask, nasal swab

The world is fighting the new coronavirus. Markforged is doing everything it can to assist the medical community in the fight against COVID-19.3D printingThe machine can bring engineers the most powerful and flexible design landing plan. Through our customers and partners, we have more than 10,000 industrial printers connected via the cloud worldwide.

Our plan of action Step1 detects the rapid identification of virus-infected persons in order to prevent the spread of the virus. We need to expand the test volume. Step2 Fast personal protective equipment. We need to quickly produce virus-protective equipment to ensure the health of front-line combatants. Step3 Robust protection For equipment, we need more durable solutions to ensure that they can be worn for a long time, reused and provide comprehensive protection. Step4 patient equipment ventilator and other patient-saving equipment is in serious shortage. We are innovatively designing to overcome the bottleneck Step5 supply chain optimization. In this struggle, All manufacturers work closely together to produce key materials.With the offset replacement of the factory production line, the industrial3D printingThe machine can quickly optimize the supply chain and remove obstacles. We are always ready to help manufacturers who need help. Our solution Fiberflex:3D printingNose test swab

Markforged currently can produce 10,000 cotton swabs per day, and can be expanded to 100,000 cotton swabs per day according to demand.

problem

Testing and identifying patients infected with COVID-19 is a key step in slowing the spread of the virus. With the improvement of global testing capabilities, a new shortage has emerged: special cotton swabs for nucleic acid testing and sampling.

solution

Markforged collaborated with Neurophotometrics to produce rayon-wrapped nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs for COVID-19 testing. These swabs are ready to be distributed and have several key advantages compared to alternative solutions:

The nasopharyngeal swab with a fiber tip is the FDA’s preferred sampling tool.

The swab takes less than three minutes to make.

Neurophotometrics, San Diego Rady Children’s Hospital, Scripps Research Institute and University of California San Diego tested Fiberflex rayon swabs on more than 50 patients.3 to 14 days after the initial test, the confirmed COVID-19 positive patients were retested, using commercial swabs and3D printingSwab. Testing with commercial cotton swabs detected the virus in most patients, but not all patients have detected the virus, and all Fiberflex rayon cotton swabs have detected the virus.This indicates3D printingSwabs may be more effective in collecting virus particles and can reduce false negative rates.

The design of Fiberflex rayon will3D printingThe nylon swab base is combined with the wrapped rayon tip to collect virus specimens. Nasopharyngeal swabs must be flexible enough to enter the nasal cavity, and must have enough strength to withstand significant pressure or twist without breaking. These swabs have been evaluated for the mechanical requirements of clinical use, and passed the tensile and torsion tests, proving that they are comparable to the mechanical properties of commercial swabs.

3D printingFace mask

To date, Markforged customers and partners have printed more than 3,200 face masks.

problem

Face masks are essential in fighting infectious diseases: they protect the eyes (a vector of infection) and extend the life of N95 masks by protecting them from direct droplet flow. Unfortunately, personal protective covers are in short supply and are usually designed to be disposable. Therefore, medical professionals either do not have a protective cover or use a disposable protective cover that exceeds the expected lifespan.

solution

Markforged engineers have designed a reusable mask that can be used with any Markforged 3D printingMachine production.It consists of a3D printingFrame, a mask made of PETg, a piece of foam tape and a ready-made elastic band. The transparent mask can be removed and replaced in less than 30 seconds.

We produced more than 1,350 masks and distributed them to local hospitals and emergency personnel for testing. The test was well received for consistency and provided us with some valuable feedback that will be incorporated into the second-generation design that we plan to release in the future. We have decided to open source the first-generation design, which means that Markforged customers and partners can print their own masks.