Hobbyists, companies leverage 3D-printing tech for medical supplies

Medical supplies are running low in the fight against the novel coronavirus, but hobbyists and companies are leveraging 3D-printing technology to help.
Posted 3/27/2020, 6:11:51 PM

SO A SIGNIFICANT JUMP IN FEWER

THAN 30 MINUTES.

BACK TO YOU.

>>> AN UNEXPECTED SOURCE IS

HELPING TO ALLEVIATE THE MEDICAL

SUPPLY SHORTAGE CAUSED BY THE

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS.

LIZ McLAUGHLIN EXPLAINS HOW 3-D

PRINTERS ARE HELPING.

>> THERE IS NOT A STOCK PILE

LARGE ENOUGH TO MEET THE

NATIONAL NEED.

>> Reporter: HOSPITALS ACROSS

THE COUNTRY RUNNING LOW ON

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND ARE

GETTING HELP FROM THE DIY SUPPLY

CHAIN.

3-D PRINTERS.

>> I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE AS

MANY PEOPLE ARE AS SAFE AS

POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: ON THE QUIET, STONY

BROOK UNIVERSITY CAMPUS IN NEW

YORK, THE STUDENT LAB IS

CREATING MORE THAN 40 PLASTIC

FACE SHIELDS EACH DAY.

THEY'RE USED BY STAFF RUNNING A

MOBILE CORONAVIRUS TESTING SITE

NEARBY.

>> DEFINITELY NICE TO BE ABLE TO

MAKE SOMETHING THAT THEY WILL BE

ABLE TO USE IN THE HOSPITAL TO

PROTECT THEMSELVES.

>> Reporter: CHARLOTTE LATIN, A

DAY SCHOOL IN NORTH CAROLINA HAS

ALSO STEPPED UP EFFORTS, ALREADY

RAISING MORE THAN $70,000 TO 3-D

PRINT FACE SHIELDS.

OTHERS, INCLUDING MASS GENERAL

HOSPITAL IN BOSTON, ARE

EXPLORING 3-D PRINTING SOLUTIONS

FOR SHORTAGES OF VENTILATORS AND

N-95 MASKS.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE

PROTECTING OUR COLLEAGUES.

>> Reporter: 3-D PRINTING MAY

NOT BE THE ANSWER FOR ALL

SHORTAGES BUT IT CAN BE A

SUPPLEMENTS FOR THE CURRENT

SUPPLY.

>> YOU CAN'T JUST GO AND PRINT A

FULL MASK WITH A FILTER AND

PROTECTION AND EVERYTHING LIKE

THAT.

YOU CAN DO PARTS AND ASSEMBLE

THEM YOURSELVES.

>> Reporter: PRINTER MAKER HP

PUBLISHED DESIGNS FOR PARTS

INCLUDING HANDS FREE DOOR

HANDLES AND NOW FORD IS 3-D

PRINTING PARTS FOR SHIELDS AND

DISPOSABLE RESPIRATORS,

COMPANIES AND HOBBYISTS LOOKING

FOR WAYS TO HELP AS THE NUMBER

OF CASES AND NEEDS OF WORKERS

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