3D printing of applied knowledge to fight COVID-19

The UIB academic community has been working with hospitals in Majorca and Ibiza since the health crisis was declared to help reduce infections of coronavirus 2019 by manufacturing gear with 3D printing

Over the last few weeks, when a quick resounding response was needed for the first wave of COVID-19 infections, the University of the Balearic Islands has provided 3D printers from its campus to be used to cover any needs at the centres.

The initiative started with collaboration with the Simulation Centre and 3D Unit at the Son Espases University Hospital, coordinated by Dr Leandro Brogi. The first material to be manufactured was an accessory for door handles that enabled doors to be opened with the forearm and without hands, meaning they remained clean. The idea was to reduce possible infection surfaces within hospitals.

The initiative coordinators at the UIB contacted other hospitals in Majorca and led to the handles being send to Inca County Hospital with the collaboration of Dr José Reyes Moreno, and to Manacor Hospital, with the help of Dr Vicenç Rocamora Durán.

Thanks to coordination with members at the UIB's Ibiza headquarters, Can Misses Hospital was also contacted so that the university's printer on the island could reproduce the handle accessory used in the Majorca. This is one of the possibilities of 3D technology: replicating parts where they are needed based on a previously validated digital template.

Screen supports

The second manufacture element was a support for transparent screens at Son Llàtzer Hospital, with the collaboration of Dr Joan Marí. The design was supplied by the hospital and bulk production was undertaken at the UIB's facilities.

This initiative was possible thanks to the participation of many members of the academic community who worked with the 3D printers on the campus and in their own homes. The printing material was provided by the Office of the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Institutional Relations at the UIB.

Acknowledgements

In recognition and acknowledgement, below is a list of all those members of the academic community who have taken part in this initiative:

  • Raúl Sánchez Torres, specialist technician in the Analysis and Physical Technology Lab in the UIB Scientific and Technical Services
  • Cristian Carmona Gómez, associate lecturer in the Department of Physics and member of the Architectural Constructions and Building Engineering research group at the UIB
  • Antoni Martorell Torres, contract technician in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the UIB, and member of the UIB Systems, Robotics and Vision (SRV) group
  • Dr Víctor Cerdà Martín, emeritus professor in the Department of Chemistry and lead researcher in the Analytical Chemistry, Automation and Environment research group at the UIB
  • Jaume Ribot Melis, UIB graduate in Automation and Industrial Electronic Engineering
  • Joan Carles Costa Bonet, IT support technician at the Ibiza and Formentera campus
  • Javier Llorente Downes, pre-doctoral candidate and member of the Flow Injection and Trace Analysis (FI-TRACE) group at the UIB
  • Andreu Figuerola Femenias, senior technician in the Department of Chemistry and member of the Analytical Chemistry, Automation and Environment research group at the UIB
  • Dr Gotzon Basterretxea Oyarzabal, senior scientist at the IMEDEA (UIB-CSIC) and member of the Coastal Oceanography Laboratory (LOCos) at the IMEDEA
  • Dr Alberto Ortiz Rodríguez, senior university lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science and member of the Systems, Robotics and Vision (SRV) group at the UIB
  • Dr Gabriel Oliver Codina, university professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science and lead researcher of the Systems, Robotics and Vision (SRV) group at the UIB
  • Dr Manuel Miró Lladó, university professor in the Department of Chemistry and lead researcher of the Flow Injection and Trace Analysis (FI-TRACE) group at the UIB
  • Dr Gemma Isabel Turnes Palomino, university professor in the Department of Chemistry and lead researcher of the Materials Chemistry group at the UIB
  • Dr Gemma Tur Ferrer, contract lecturer with a doctoral degree in the Department of Applied Psychology and Educational Psychology at the Ibiza and Formentera campus and member of the Educational Technology group at the UIB
  • Francesca Molinos Homar, associate lecturer in the Department of Physics and coordinator of the Demolab and Demotec laboratories
  • Lola Álvarez Díaz, coordinator of the Demolab and Demotec laboratories
  • Carlos García Calderón, UIB student on the Degree in Automation and Industrial Electronic Engineering
  • Míriam del Rosario Palomar Dorado, UIB student on the Degree in Automation and Industrial Electronic Engineering
  • Fernando Sanz Blanco, UIB student on the Degree in Automation and Industrial Electronic Engineering
  • Marc Pérez Bernús, UIB student on the Degree in Automation and Industrial Electronic Engineering
  • Pau Miralles Fernández, UIB student on the Degree in Automation and Industrial Electronic Engineering
  • Lluís Aleñar Vega, UIB student on the Degree in Telematics Engineering.

The work has been coordinated by Dr Yolanda González Cid, UIB senior lecturer, Director of Research Promotion, member of the Systems, Robotics and Vision (SRV) research group at the UIB and of the e-Health and Multidisciplinary Telemedicine via Smart Cyber-Physical Systems research group at the IdisBA; and by Dr Bartomeu Alorda Ladaria, UIB senior university lecturer, Director of Innovation and Transfer at the UIB, member of the Electronic Systems research group at the UIB and lead researcher of the e-Health and Multidisciplinary Telemedicine via Smart Cyber-Physical Systems research group at the IdisBA.

Event date: 15/05/2020

Publication date: Fri May 15 08:46:00 CEST 2020