Hā - 3D Printed Reusable N95 Mask
I am working with a group that is trying to create a one-size-fits-all mask with a removable N95 filter that can be easily cleaned and reused. We want to finalize a design and begin printing these 24/7 to provide to health care workers and at risk members of the community. These masks protect both the wearer from contagious patients and patients from the potential of infecting those around them. Air is filtered going both in and out of the filter and the filtration media is cheap, reusable and easily swapped out (which is good practice when health care workers see many patients a day). Hā is the Hawaiian word for "the breath of life" and we seek to protect this sacred spirit from the pandemic currently faced by our planet.
With the money raised, we will finalize the design and order supplies in bulk to begin mass producing the design. Our goal is to first provide for anyone in Hawai'i that is at risk or a first responder, then ship to high need areas where there is a lack of proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). We will also be procuring and cutting the filter material to fit the design. The mask is made from PLA which is a bioplastic created from agricultural byproducts and contains no petroleum products.
This is not a simple over-the-face surgical mask. The goal of this project is to adhere to the N95 standard which removes > 95% of particulates at 0.3 microns which is the current CDC standard. We will be testing these units both for fit as well as for sterility using a ventilated flow hood setup that will allow us to scientifically deduce the filtration effectiveness by counting live cultures of anything that passes through the mask. We have also been in close communication with UH researchers that have retrofitted a lab to provide scientific data and analysis of possible materials that could be readily available already in health care networks.
Why am I asking for money? I teach Integrated Engineering and Technology at a local high school and am not salaried. While we are under quarantine I have no income and can't afford the quantity of supplies needed to manufacture these items. Luckily, I have a lot of experience in sterile laboratory techniques and methods having worked in plant tissue culture labs in the past. I also have four 3D printers at my home which I can utilize to manufacture these masks and filters and would love to distribute supplies to others in Hawaii that have access to 3D printers.
We are also able to print face shields, ventilator parts and other devices that will help in the fight against COVID-19. Prototyping and manufacturing will be based on needs from the health care community and we may pivot at any point to provide the most support for those working on the front lines. Help me make a difference - by preventing our hospitals from running out of supplies, we can slow the transmission of this disease and save lives.
