The federal government this week took steps to formalize a collaboration framework to facilitate regulatory and basic science innovation with 3D printing technologies to respond to COVID-19.
The FDA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH/NIAID) to advance utilization of 3D printing to fill critical supply shortfalls and innovate solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency.
These federal partners are working with America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, to facilitate connections between patients and healthcare providers, local manufacturers with capabilities, and designs for needed medical products.
Through this collaboration, the U.S. government and partners will aims to ensure that veterans and civilians have access to the most innovative medical solutions and technologies, including medical products that are manufactured close to the patient or at point-of-care. The FDA also issued FAQs on 3D Printing of Medical Devices During COVID-19 for entities who 3D print devices, accessories, components, and/or parts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlighted NIH 3D Print Exchange Prototypes:
- Georgia Tech Face Shield for Injection Molding, 3D Printing, Waterjet, Laser Cutting
- DtM-v3.0 Face Shield PPE, 3D printable headband
- IC3D Budmen Face Shield
- Reusable 3D Printed Replacement Straps for N95 Face Masks
- 3DVerkstan 3D printed face shield head band
- 3D Model of Covid-19 virus
- SARS-CoV-2 main protease with unliganded active site
- Crystal structure of RNA binding domain of nucleocapsid phosphoprotein from SARS coronavirus 2
- Structure of mouse coronavirus spike protein complexed with receptor reveals mechanism for viral entry
- 4:1 Ventilator adapter
