This year has presented unprecedented challenges globally as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. AMMD Hub has adapted to tackle the COVID-19 crisis in the medical device industry, particularly in partnering with clinicians, engineers and manufacturers to solve critical problems.
Professor John Fraser testing the shield
Face Shields
In response to the urgent demand, AMMD Hub researchers have applied their expertise to design and manufacture face shields to protect healthcare workers from aerosolised viral particles. The face shields were designed for rapid manufacture using 3D printing technology at Hub Partner organisation, iOrthotics. The design incorporates feedback from healthcare workers who have trialled the prototypes at the Prince Charles Hospital, Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital and Sunshine Coast Hospital. AMMD Hub is continuing to explore ways to adapt advanced manufacturing techniques to assist in the effort to prepare Australia during the continuing pandemic.
3D printing face shield components
UQ Ventilator Design Hackathon
In April, several AMMD Hub researchers from the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering participated in the UQ Ventilator Design Hackathon as mentors and judges. Students were tasked with designing an ‘open source’, low-cost, simple ventilator that can serve COVID-19 patients in an emergency timeframe. Over 200 students participated in the Hackathon, which used the ventilator specifications set out by Australia’s Chief Scientist Alan Finkel. The four day intensive competition involved virtual meetings, prototype models and a clinical advisor, Brisbane anaesthetist Dr Erich Schulz.
UQ Medical Device Student Group
Building on the interest from the Hackathon, AMMD Hub researchers formed an undergraduate student group for those interested in the medical device industry. The group focused on tackling additional challenges rising from the pandemic, as well as ongoing needs in the medical device industry.
Medical Device Workshop
AMMD Hub presented Medical Devices: from design concept to manufacturing, a workshop focussed on case studies and discussions on medical device design and manufacture with clinicians and manufacturers. Topics included collaborations enabling the transfer of technology into medical device design and manufacture, the role of engineers in the medical device industry, and insights from the medical device manufacturing sector. AMMD Hub thanks the speakers Professor John Fraser, Dr Erich Schulz and Dr Samih Nabulsi for their time.
