MAHE team designs low-cost face shield in Mangaluru

MANGALURU: A three dimensional (3D) printing centre in Manipal which makes prosthesis for children has designed a low-cost face shield. The innovation by ‘Hastha’: Centre for Congenital Hand Differences, under Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), is reusable after sterilisation, can protect a person from droplets and act as a personal protection equipment.
Dr Anil K Bhat, associate dean, professor, Unit of Hand and Microsurgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, who led the design team, said that the face shield optimises material usage, print time, user comfort and visibility.
It reduces print time from 4.5 hours to less than two hours (Templated from open source design, Prusa Protective Face Shield-RC3) Dr Bhat said the modified process of assembling has four components: the face shield frame, an elastic band, a plastic visor (can be any clear plastic: laminates, PVC plastic sheets or PVC film) and binder clips to attach the visor to the frame. “Once the frame is ready, the elastic bands are attached to protrusions at the base of the frame and finally the visor is attached by means of clips. The frames can also be reused after being disinfected,” he said.
The face shield will protect a person from any droplet/splash and acts as an additional outermost barrier to the PPE” he said.
The other team members are: Amartya Gupta and Satyam Chaturvedi (research assistants) at Hastha (Centre for Congenital Hand Differences). Understanding the limitations of users without access to 3D printers, the team also developed an easy-to-manufacture aluminium face shield frame that can be prepared in under an hour. The aluminium face shield also presents a quick solution for urgent cases.
Dr Bhat said the team is also working to support the emergency department in the event of a crisis by developing 3D printed custom ventilator splitters. This will enable a single ventilator to service multiple patients.