ALUMNI
Essential Engineering When essential healthcare workers were in desperate need of face
shields, Limbitless Solutions stepped up to help. The nonprofit, which manufactures 3D-printed bionic arms and was founded by three-time MAE alumnus Albert Manero, joined a national COVID-19 coalition that was created to produce and provide personal protective equipment to those in need. The coalition was created by Stratasys, a 3D printer company that has partnered with Limbitless to further support its development of bionic arms. Limbitless participated by 3D-printing visors, a critical component of face shields. Each visor was printed with one of four messages: “Hope,” “Love,” “Compassion,” or “We Thank You.” The visors were then delivered to an offsite location where the face shields were assembled and distributed. A portion of the visors were also 6 | MOMENTUM Fall 2020
sent to Orlando Health to help local healthcare workers during the pandemic. Overall, the coalition — which included organizations such as Blue Origin, Boeing, Medtronic, Andretti Autosports and the University of Minnesota — manufactured and shipped more than 275,000 face shields. But as the crisis continued, visors weren’t the only PPE component that healthcare workers needed. In addition to visors, Limbitless also began to 3D print earsavers, devices that hook the straps of a face mask behind the head to alleviate discomfort and pressure on the ears. These were also provided to workers at Orlando Health. Sharing Solutions As Limbitless shifted its focus to help others during the pandemic, it learned a few lessons along the way.
The nonprofit published an article on its findings in the Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. One recommendation offered by Limbitless is for universities to build relationships with local hospitals so they can adequately support their 3D printing needs during future public health emergencies. “We decided to share our analysis and recommendations in the manuscript because universities are part of their communities and uniquely positioned to be a part of solutions to global and local problems,” Manero told UCF Today. “We learned a lot from our experience and see the potential to help local hospitals be ready for next time.” The article also discusses the challenges and benefits of 3D printing medical devices and PPE and offers recommendations for local and national collaborations during times of crisis.
