Potential Risks of A Widespread Use of 3D Printing for The Manufacturing of Face Masks During the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Pandemic

Duda, Sven; Hartig, Sascha; Hagner, Karola; Meyer, Lisa; Intriago, Paula Wessling; Meyer, Tobias; Wessling, H.

doi:10.2217/3dp-2020-0014

Cited by 4 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In five studies of reusable respirators, optimal fit was not achieved [ 46 , 53 , 141 – 143 ]. Despite the fact that all of the 3D-printed prototypes in the Ballard et al study were built of flexible materials, three of them failed to offer an acceptable fit into the facial dimensions of four individuals.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Duda et al noted that the studied 3D-printed face masks could not be used in clinical settings. The main causes of this are leakages associated with the connection of the masks with the filter material, particularly unwanted leakages brought on by the simplified filter box construction, as well as the low flexibility of the material and the thin sealing line, which prevent the necessary sealing performance on the face [ 46 ]. It is undeniable that the respirators with 3D-printed designs are made of subtle, heavy, and complicated components with different materials, and components’ connections.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A systematic review of passing fit testing of the masks and respirators used during the COVID-19 pandemic: Part 1-quantitative fit test procedures

Fakherpour,

Jahangiri,

Jansz

2023

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background During respiratory infection pandemics, masks and respirators are highly sought after, especially for frontline healthcare workers and patients carrying respiratory viruses. The objective of this study was to systematically review fit test pass rates and identify factors influencing the fitting characteristics. Methods Potentially relevant studies were identified using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct during the COVID-19 pandemic from February 5, 2020, to March 21, 2023. The search strategy using the following keywords was conducted: Quantitative Fit Test, Condensation Nuclei Counter, Controlled Negative Pressure, PortaCount, Sibata, Accufit, Fit, Seal, Mask, Respirator, Respiratory Protective Device, Respiratory Protective Equipment, Protective Device, Personal Protective Equipment, COVID-19, Coronavirus, and SARS-CoV-2. The quality of the included studies was also assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results A total of 137 articles met the eligibility criteria. Fifty articles had a quality score of less than 7 (good quality). A total of 21 studies had a fit test pass rate of less than 50%. 26 studies on disposable respirators and 11 studies on reusable respirators had an FF of less than 50 and less than 200, respectively. The most influential factors include respirator brand/model, style, gender, ethnicity, facial dimensions, facial hair, age, reuse, extensive movement, seal check, comfort and usability assessment, and training. Conclusion 37.36% of the disposable respirator studies and 43% of the reusable respirator studies did not report fit test results. 67.86% of the disposable respirator studies had a fit test pass rate greater than 50%, and 35.84% of these studies had an FF greater than 100. Also, 85.71% of the reusable respirator studies had a fit test pass rate greater than 50%, and 52.77% of these studies had an FF greater than 1000. Overall, the fit test pass rate was relatively acceptable. Newly developed or modified respirators must undergo reliable testing to ensure the protection of HCWs. Subject and respirator characteristics should be considered when implementing fit testing protocols. An optimal fit test panel should be developed prior to respirator design, certification, procurement decisions, and selection procedures.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systematic review of passing fit testing of the masks and respirators used during the COVID-19 pandemic: Part 1-quantitative fit test procedures

Fakherpour,

Jahangiri,

Jansz

2023

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…5 But Duda et al showed extremely low effectiveness in real-world use of a wider selection of mask designs. 9 These two studies clearly illustrate the need to consider not only the design of AM masks but also the realities and limitations of realworld use.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

In Silico Fit Evaluation of Additively Manufactured Face Coverings

Carr

D’Souza

et al. 2022

Ann Biomed Eng

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In response to the respiratory protection device shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic, the additive manufacturing (AM) community designed and disseminated numerous AM face masks. Questions regarding the effectiveness of AM masks arose because these masks were often designed with limited (if any) functional performance evaluation. In this study, we present a fit evaluation methodology in which AM face masks are virtually donned on a standard digital headform using finite element-based numerical simulations. We then extract contour plots to visualize the contact patches and gaps and quantify the leakage surface area for each mask frame. We also use the methodology to evaluate the effects of adding a foam gasket and variable face mask sizing, and finally propose a series of best practices. Herein, the methodology is focused only on characterizing the fit of AM mask frames and does not considering filter material or overall performance. We found that AM face masks may provide a sufficiently good fit if the sizing is appropriate and if a sealing gasket material is present to fill the gaps between the mask and face. Without these precautions, the rigid nature of AM materials combined with the wide variation in facial morphology likely results in large gaps and insufficient adaptability to varying user conditions which may render the AM face masks ineffective.

show abstract

“…While there are efforts to produce AM wearables that may provide some level of personal protection, current designs, fabrication choices, and workflows still require progress. Duda et al previously found that the AM face masks they evaluated did not measure up to the particle filtration efficiencies of commercially available FFP2/3 respirators [42] . Chichester et al stated that AM face masks may be able to provide a stopgap measure in crisis condition when traditional N95 masks become unavailable, although cautioned that users should be made aware of their risks and extend of their testing [38] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benchtop assessment of sealing efficacy and breathability of additively manufactured (AM) face masks

Fogarasi¹,

Snodderly²,

Herman³

et al. 2023

Additive Manufacturing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Potential Risks of A Widespread Use of 3D Printing for The Manufacturing of Face Masks During the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Pandemic

Cited by 4 publications

References 14 publications

A systematic review of passing fit testing of the masks and respirators used during the COVID-19 pandemic: Part 1-quantitative fit test procedures

A systematic review of passing fit testing of the masks and respirators used during the COVID-19 pandemic: Part 1-quantitative fit test procedures

In Silico Fit Evaluation of Additively Manufactured Face Coverings

Benchtop assessment of sealing efficacy and breathability of additively manufactured (AM) face masks

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About