The University of West Florida, in partnership with Form Labs 3D printing firm, North Well, and Tampa General Hospital has published a successfully designed and experimented an additively manufactured nasal swab. This is in a move to fight the inadequacy that hospitals and healthcare encounter in examining covid-19.
Handling the project, the increased need and restricted stocks of nasal swab to experiment COVID-19, is a group from USF Health’s 3D Clinical Applications Division together with Northwell Health in partnership with Form Labs an ISO approved AM producer for prototypes and safety elements. The team is created an additively manufactured nasal swab as an option for NP swab for examining SARS Cov -2, the virus that triggers Covid-19.
The prototypes were created by utilizing Form labs 3D printers and biocompatible, autoclavable resins, clinically experimented by Northwell Health, Tampa General Hospital, USF Health for the welfare of security and easiness of patients.
This major achievement in experimenting with the swabs was carried out by the experts of radiology and infectious illnesses. This included speedy and clinical experimenting at Tampa General Hospital and Northwell Health. All examination showed that 3D printed nasal swab might be an option for nasopharyngeal swab (NP swab) utilized for examining Covid -19.
“This is a prime example of the incredible impact we can have on human lives when teams of experts across academia, health care delivery, and the tech industry come together,” stated MD, MHCM, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, Charles J. Lockwood.
“Formlabs has been working around the clock to assist in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we’re hopeful that our efforts will help patients get the care they need. The medical devices we supply to medical professionals on the frontlines battling this disease must be safe and work effectively so as not to put workers or their patients at risk. By working hand-in-hand with Northwell Health and USF Health to design and safely produce these swabs, Formlabs is providing a viable solution to the current shortage of nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs and can now produce them at scale to help hospitals better treat patients,” said the co-founder and CEO OF Formlabs, Max Lobovsky.
The CEO and President of Tampa General Hospital said that in this unprecedented period the hospital is proud to unite with USF Health, Northwell Health, and Formlabs to assist to protect lives eventually. He also said that he has been humbled and encouraged by the sacrifice and perseverance, and teamwork of their clinical crews partnering to make the additively manufactured nasal swabs to examine sufferers in need in crisis shortage circumstances. “Thank you to Formlabs 3D printers for being the right partner to all of our physicians and teams working tirelessly to protect the health and safety of our community Couris,” the president & CEO of Tampa General Hospital added.
By switching to proven additive manufacturing technology to enhance production procedures, lessen supply connections and localize production, healthcare providers may swiftly and successfully get well and more.
