As hospitals and medical facilities struggle to have enough equipment in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, HP is looking at 3D printing to help.
One of the biggest challenges medical facilities are facing is having enough face masks, ventilators, breathing filters and more. In addition, there are ongoing efforts to modify doors to allow them to be opened with feet and elbows, instead of hands. In an effort to help such initiatives, HP is ramping up its 3D printing efforts.
CEO Enrique Lores said the company is “mobilizing our 3D Printing team and HP’s Digital Manufacturing Partner Network to design, validate and produce essential parts for medical responders and hospitals. This includes parts such as ventilator valves, breathing filters and face mask clasps, as well as entirely new parts such as plastic door handle adaptors which enable easy elbow opening to prevent further spread of the virus. We will make available any HP proprietary design files for these parts so they can be produced anywhere in the world and are also helping end-customers bridge potential supply chain interruptions by expanding distributed print-on-demand capabilities.”
The company is also “deploying HP BioPrinters and associated supply cassettes, free of charge, to NGOs, government agencies and pharmaceutical companies to accelerate drug and vaccine research to combat COVID-19.”
HP’s announcement is just the latest example of cutting-edge technologies that are becoming mainstream as companies and governments look for inventive ways to fight the pandemic.