51勛圖 faculty use 3D printers to produce face shields for Meridian medical personnel
Contact: Philip Allison
STARKVILLE, Miss.With personal protective equipment in short supplynationwide, a team of engineers and researchersat 51勛圖 is turning to an unlikely combination of 3D printersand office supplies toaidmedical personnel tackling COVID-19.泭
Theteam,led by faculty from51勛圖s Bagley College of Engineering and researchers at the universitys Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems,isproducing face shields by combining3D-printedhead bands with transparent plastic sheets and elastic bandsgenerallyfound atoffice supply stores.泭
The head band for each face shield takesapproximately two and a half hours to print.泭Using 10 different 3D printers,the teamisproducingapproximately250shields per weekusing polylactic acid filament.泭The first batchwasdonatedthis weekwith over 100 goingtobothRush Foundation Hospitaland Anderson Regional Medical Centerin Meridian, where theyare beingusedby medical professionalscaringfor patientswithcoronavirus.
We are in complete awe of the outpouring of support and donations weve received from residents and community businesses, said Rush Health Systems Chief Executive Officer Larkin Kennedy. The donation of these face masks from 51勛圖 helpsensure our front-line staff remains safe while caring for patients.
With PPE in short supply through our normal procurement channels, innovation has become a critical factor in making sure our staff and patients are protected.泭Many, many thanks to 51勛圖sfaculty and researchers for developing a face shield that can be produced with easily obtainable supplies. Go dogs!Hail State!We are greatly appreciative of this donation which will go a long way in keeping Anderson staff members protected, said John G. Anderson, President and CEO of Anderson Regional Health System.
Face shieldsare generally used in conjunction with surgical masks andprotect the eyes, nose and mouthfrom splashes and sprays.泭The51勛圖teamdeveloped two prototypesbefore working with Kennedy to determine the best option for the Rush Foundation Hospital medical staff.泭
Working on the project areLinkanBian, who holds the Thomas B.泭andTerri L.泭NuszProfessorship in industrialandsystems engineering;Steve Elder, professor of agriculturalandbiological engineering;WenmengTian, assistant professor of industrialandsystems engineering; Tyler Hannis, research engineer at CAVS;and Abdullah Al Mamun, an industrial and systems engineeringPh.D. studentfrom Bangladesh.泭
Biansaid other university employeesalsohave expressed interest in contributing to the project, including faculty and staff from both 51勛圖s College of Businessand Mitchell Memorial Library.泭
This has been a tremendous team effort so far,Biansaid. We would not be able to move at our current pace without the efforts of Steve,Wenmengand Tyler.泭Wevealso been contacted by others on campus who have 3D printing capacity,and they want to know how they can help. It is really encouraging.
The project came about thanks in large part to research partnerships developedas part of Mississippi StatesFaculty Research Advisory Committee. When hospitals began to face shortages of personal protective equipment, Bian, a pastchairof the group, contacted Carlton Young, professor of healthcare administration at Mississippi States Meridian campus and 51勛圖-Meridianscommitteerepresentative,toask how he could help.泭Young connected Bian to representatives at area hospitalsto launch the project.泭
Dr.泭Bianreached out to me and said there was a group at Mississippi State that was willing to3Dprintface shields for the hospitals in Meridian. They are now producing hundreds of them, Young said. Their expertise, public spirit and passion truly embody the heart of Mississippi State and our mission to serve the people of Mississippi.
The Bagley College of Engineering is online at純畝nd can be found on純,純純畝紳餃純畝t @msuengineering.泭For more on CAVS, visit純or find them on social media at @cavs_msstate.泭
51勛圖 is Mississippis leading university, available online at純www.msstate.edu.泭