Engineer transforms Decathlon diving masks into respirators thanks to 3D printing

Engineer transforms Decathlon diving masks into respirators thanks to 3D printing and they work! An idea that could save many lives.

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They became famous all over the world with the 3D printed respiratory valves, which saved the lives of many people, and now Cristian Fracassi, engineer, and his team, create respiratory masks by converting diving masks.

The 3D printed valves, indispensable for ICU respirators, were born by chance, or rather, by necessity. The Chiari Hospital no longer had any and people were dying, the ordinary way of procuring serial parts was not viable for a reason, and so Fracassi and his team, specifying on facebook that he and his colleagues they don't want to be called heroes or geniuses, they invented 3D valves. Which have proved effective, ending up on the pages of the international media.

The news also reached the former primary of the Gardone Valtrompia Hospital, Dr. Renato Favero, who proposed to the team to convert diving masks into respiratory masks, as Fracassi specifies on his fb profile:

“And here is a retired hospital head physician, Dr. Renato Favero rang at our door, gave us an anatomy lesson on the functioning of the lungs, alveoli, viruses and pneumonia, and then asked us to help him in the task of transforming diving masks into breathing masks to be used in the hospital. Needless to say our answer: we worked on it day and night, Isinnova got into the sixth gear and in less than 10 hours we had the prototype that two Brescia hospitals are testing these days. We would like to wait for the results of all tests (positive to date) but we think that every minute is crucial. Doctors, nurses, hospitals, spread it, study it and help us improve it: we ourselves will keep you updated on how to implement this new idea (always free of charge). "

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Posted by Cristian Fracassi on Saturday, March 21, 2020

At first, the company contacted Decathlon, "as the creator, manufacturer and distributor of the Easybreath snorkeling mask", which immediately made itself available to provide the CAD drawing of the mask, the product was then disassembled, studied and evaluated. . We then moved on to the design of the new component for the connection to the respirator, called the Charlotte valve, printed in 3d. Prototype that proved to work after being tested on a colleague and a sick patient.

The company has decided to patent the connection valve to prevent speculation on the price of the component but wants the patent to remain open to use so that all hospitals in need can use it. He also shared the file with instructions for making the 3D printed fitting, which they say is easy to make. In this way, healthcare facilities can purchase Decathlon masks and have the necessary piece made to complete them by 3D printers.

A really precious help that could save many human lives!

SOURCES: Isinnova