Facing COVID-19 pandemic: development of custom-made face mask with rapid prototyping system

Background: COVID-19 is a global pandemic. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact. Therefore, the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare professionals is essential. 3D printing technology could represent a valid option to ameliorate PPE shortage...

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Main Authors: Pasquale Piombino, Umberto Committeri, Giovanna Norino, Luigi Angelo Vaira, Stefania Troise, Fabio Maglitto, Domenico Mariniello, Giacomo De Riu, Luigi Califano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2021-01-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/13384
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author Pasquale Piombino
Umberto Committeri
Giovanna Norino
Luigi Angelo Vaira
Stefania Troise
Fabio Maglitto
Domenico Mariniello
Giacomo De Riu
Luigi Califano
author_facet Pasquale Piombino
Umberto Committeri
Giovanna Norino
Luigi Angelo Vaira
Stefania Troise
Fabio Maglitto
Domenico Mariniello
Giacomo De Riu
Luigi Califano
author_sort Pasquale Piombino
collection DOAJ
description Background: COVID-19 is a global pandemic. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact. Therefore, the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare professionals is essential. 3D printing technology could represent a valid option to ameliorate PPE shortages. Methodology: Custom-made face mask were designed on the basis of facial scan and then 3D-printed. The whole protocol is executed with freeware software and only required a 3D printer. Six healthcare workers wore the device weekly thus expressing a judgment regarding quality of work, respiratory and skin comfort. Results: The estimated total cost of a single mask is approximately 5 USD. The virtual design of a complete mask lasted 68 minutes on average. Most healthcare workers rated comfort as very good. Conclusions: Based on the encouraging results obtained, we can confidently confirm that custom-made masks are novel and useful devices that may be used in the fight against COVID-19.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1972-2680
language English
publishDate 2021-01-01
publisher The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
record_format Article
series Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
spelling doaj-art-6837fc3ea505423489d28bdc3b86ebf72025-08-20T03:52:43ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802021-01-01150110.3855/jidc.13384Facing COVID-19 pandemic: development of custom-made face mask with rapid prototyping systemPasquale Piombino0Umberto Committeri1Giovanna Norino2Luigi Angelo Vaira3Stefania Troise4Fabio Maglitto5Domenico Mariniello6Giacomo De Riu7Luigi Califano8Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyMaxillofacial Surgery Operative Unit, University Hospital of Sassari, Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, ItalyMaxillofacial Surgery Operative Unit, University Hospital of Sassari, Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy Background: COVID-19 is a global pandemic. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact. Therefore, the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare professionals is essential. 3D printing technology could represent a valid option to ameliorate PPE shortages. Methodology: Custom-made face mask were designed on the basis of facial scan and then 3D-printed. The whole protocol is executed with freeware software and only required a 3D printer. Six healthcare workers wore the device weekly thus expressing a judgment regarding quality of work, respiratory and skin comfort. Results: The estimated total cost of a single mask is approximately 5 USD. The virtual design of a complete mask lasted 68 minutes on average. Most healthcare workers rated comfort as very good. Conclusions: Based on the encouraging results obtained, we can confidently confirm that custom-made masks are novel and useful devices that may be used in the fight against COVID-19. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/13384COVID-19Face maskPersonal protective equipmentPPE3D-printed
spellingShingle Pasquale Piombino
Umberto Committeri
Giovanna Norino
Luigi Angelo Vaira
Stefania Troise
Fabio Maglitto
Domenico Mariniello
Giacomo De Riu
Luigi Califano
Facing COVID-19 pandemic: development of custom-made face mask with rapid prototyping system
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
COVID-19
Face mask
Personal protective equipment
PPE
3D-printed
title Facing COVID-19 pandemic: development of custom-made face mask with rapid prototyping system
title_full Facing COVID-19 pandemic: development of custom-made face mask with rapid prototyping system
title_fullStr Facing COVID-19 pandemic: development of custom-made face mask with rapid prototyping system
title_full_unstemmed Facing COVID-19 pandemic: development of custom-made face mask with rapid prototyping system
title_short Facing COVID-19 pandemic: development of custom-made face mask with rapid prototyping system
title_sort facing covid 19 pandemic development of custom made face mask with rapid prototyping system
topic COVID-19
Face mask
Personal protective equipment
PPE
3D-printed
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/13384
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