3D Printing saved Italian hospital when supply chain issues threaten patients

The world is in a Pandemic situation, and medical supply chains are being stretched to their limits, especially within hard-hit regions like in Northern Italy. These supply chain issues cause delays, then shortages and later, medical emergencies, and that’s what happened in the city of Brescia.   

Brescia’s hospital had 250 COVID-19 patients, many of which needed to use respirators. Unfortunately, these respirators need their valves replaced every 8 hours, which quickly say the hospital run through its stock of valves, and their suppliers were unable to supply the hospital with new valves fast enough. 

Lives were at risk, but thanks to 3D printing, the situation was eventually resolved. An Italian journalist, Nunzia Vallini, put Brescia’s hospital in touch with Cristian Francassi, the CEO of Isinnova, who, with the assistance of mechanical engineer Alessandro Romaioli, was able to design a manufacture a 3D printed prototype valve within three hours of seeing an original ventilator valve. 

After receiving a prototype, the Brescia hospital quickly tested their 3D Printed replacement valve on a patient, confirming that that new valve functioned correctly. After that, Francassi returned to his office to start producing more replacement valves. The image below compares a standard respirator valve (left), with a 3D printed replacement valve (right).