Electrical and electronic engineering New 3D printed products that are helping the NHS

Any electrical and electronic engineer will tell you how vital their 3D printer is for their work. It is one of the go-to pieces of equipment in their role, that even during the lockdown, is still working to fulfill the needs of the nation.

As 3D printers are becoming more affordable and readily available, engineers are using their trusted piece of equipment at home to help overcome current issues that are hitting the nation. The skillsets that engineers have been heavily in demand right now, in a bid to try and overcome the pandemic crisis. For many, it is merely a case of donating their time and using their 3D printers at home, here are just some of the creation’s engineers have made to help support the NHS.

Masks

A big topic of conversation at the moment is protective equipment for the keyworkers on the front line. Many hospitals and care homes are relying on shipments arriving from overseas so that they can work in a safe environment, but deliveries aren’t arriving.

Fortunately, engineers are using their 3D printers at home to help, especially with face masks.

Some people have created masks and face shields to help protect workers, and some engineers are creating ways to help ease the effects of wearing elastic headbands for 12 hours at a time. Simple strips with multiple indents along the edge for masks to hook onto have been praised enormously by the NHS workers as their ears and heads were sore from wearing masks for so long.

Ventilator parts

As Covid-19 is a respiratory disease, the NHS is relying on ventilators to give patients the care they need. While many companies are working overtime to produce ventilators, people with 3D printers are working hard to provide the connecting parts that allow these ventilators to be compatible with NHS fixtures. As other areas focus on building ventilators, these printers can help elevate the pressures of production by creating smaller parts.

Testing swabs

Testing is incredibly important during the pandemic; not only can it help us diagnose patients more, but it can help us learn new ways to treat the virus. The swabs that are used to take samples are simple cotton bud swabs, but as with most pieces of equipment during the virus, they are in short supply.

Fortunately, creating swabs is very simple for 3D printers, so engineers have been printing these at an alarming rate. Thankfully these items won’t be in short supply for too long, and the country can test more people every day.

Door openers

It’s one thing to create something that keyworkers need, but some engineers have gone that one step further to create something new for the NHS. Some engineers have created door openers that allow doors to be opened using an arm instead of a hand and handle; this minimises the contact between people and can help reduce the spread of the virus.

Do you have any great ideas that can make life on the NHS front line easier? Perhaps you need the encouragement of our passionate lecturers to help bring your ideas to life. Wouldn’t it be great to be the next person to create a life-saving piece of equipment, why not let the University of Bolton help you become an innovator, to find out more information, click here.