Materialise Develops 3D Printed Oxygen Mask to Address Ventilators
LEUVEN, Belgium — Materialise, a Belgium-based pioneer in 3D printing, has developed the Materialise NIP Connector, a device to convert standard equipment into a mask to facilitate breathing for patients by creating positive pressure in the lungs.
These assembled masks allow clinicians to reduce the time patients need access to mechanical ventilators, which helps to reduce the strain on ventilator supplies. Materialise has decades of experience in certified medical 3D printing and is now fast-tracking the regulatory registrations that are crucial to ensure the safety of patients and caregivers. The company expects to have the device broadly available for hospitals by mid-April.