A drastic shortage of medical supplies has threatened the safety of Wyomingites across the state. The team at the University of Wyoming Student Innovation Center (SIC) has answered the call to action and are now using their equipment to lessen the shortage.
“It’s my job to run the shop and create programming to teach anyone who wants to learn, from students, faculty and staff to community members, how to use the incredible technology we have in here, such as 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, and more,” said Tyler Kerr, the full-time Makerspace Coordinator at the Student Innovation Center located in the Engineering, Education, & Research Building. “We’re one of the best-equipped makerspaces in the Mountain West, if not the nation, and we want Laramie to take advantage of that.”
For Kerr and his team, their days looked very different before the outbreak and consequent closure of public places at Governor Gordon’s request.
“Before the outbreak we were riding on our most successful month ye. We had been offering about 30 free workshops per week to teach the maker community how to use any of our equipment, and because of that we were averaging roughly 1,400 people per month, which is pretty incredible. The shop was happy and buzzing with fun and exciting ideas,” Kerr said.
But, like the rest of the state, things changed quickly.
“Since Governor Gordon’s request to shut down public places, my staff and I have pivoted to working with the local hospitals to produce critical equipment,” Kerr said. “Most recently, my staff and I pulled off a full 48-hour nonstop 3D printing marathon and managed to create 115 surgical face masks for Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. Next up, we’re 3D printing 100 face shields for CRMC, and then another 100 face shields for Wyoming Medical Center in Casper.”
So, whose idea was it to begin 3-D printing facemasks and shields for medical use? Frankly, no one seems to know. Kerr and his team had a very unique path to where they are now.
“This was certainly not our idea, but one that seemed to come from the worldwide maker movement. We merely saw that there was a need to start producing backup, last-resort personal protective equipment and knew that we could help, so we volunteered with the Wyoming Technology Coronavirus Coalition, or WTCC, and have been working to contact and organize efforts with other makerspaces around the state” Kerr said.
Alongside being part of this nationwide movement, Kerr was contacted by a more local source for help.
“We were contacted by a very enterprising RN named Doug Berg from the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. Doug had already 3D printed a few prototypes of the mask for CRMC leadership, who approved of the plan. Then Doug contacted us through the WTCC, and with CRMC’s blessing we started production. Every decision we make goes directly to CRMC first for approval, and we’re being very careful to defer to them as well as other medical professionals before we do anything. We’ve also done a lot of research into the peer-reviewed literature for sterilizing 3D prints and have shared that with our partners.” Kerr said.
According to Kerr, things were not always running as smoothly as they are now.
“There was never any resistance (from people) but there were some very justifiable concerns. Many communities hear the word ‘mask’ and think we’re printing true respirators, such as the N95 respirator, and that’s not the case!” Kerr said. “Part of this confusion lies in how the public refers to both N95 respirators and surgical face masks synonymously as ‘masks’ when N95s should be referred to as respirators. Ultimately, we had the support from CRMC’s biomedical engineering and leadership teams to help to bolster our proposal.”
So far, Kerr and his team have produced roughly 150 masks, 115 of which were just sent to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. 200 more face masks for Casper Regional Medical center and Wyoming Medical Center are currently being printed.
“It certainly feels good (to do this) but it also feels like it’s our duty to do so. We have almost $1.4 million in brand new equipment, almost all of which can be put to use rapidly producing custom parts for hospitals in a medium to large scale, so we felt that it was our obligation to put these machines to use. Around the world right now, there are grassroots communities, businesses, manufacturers, libraries, middle schools, makerspaces, and all number of different facilities who are lending their expertise and equipment to help. We’re just one tiny cog in the wheel of the grander global maker movement that are making these 3D printed parts to help out local hospitals.” Kerr said.
For any readers who are interested in getting involved or providing support, there are numerous options available. Right now, the SIC is paying all costs out of pocket. Furthermore, there is a need for skilled workers in select positions.
Like the pandemics of the past, this will all end eventually. And Kerr has big plans for that day.
“I’m going to sit out in the sunshine with my dogs and hopefully many of my new WTCC friends and enjoy the fresh air and good company,” said Kerr. “The work never stops, but it certainly doesn’t feel like work when you get paid to play with high-tech toys for a living.”
