ROCK HILL, S.C., March 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The rapid
spread of COVID-19 has put the healthcare industry under tremendous
strain as it struggles to provide care for affected patients while
facing a staggering shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE)
and life-saving medical devices. In response, 3D
Systems (NYSE: DDD) has pledged its support to help medical
device manufacturers and hospitals bridge the supply chain gap for
resources to help overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, 3D
Systems is requesting assistance and participation from its global
network of partners, customers, and others within the additive
manufacturing community who are in a position to help produce these
parts to meet the urgent needs of the healthcare sector as they
care for patients, and contain the spread of COVID-19.
"The healthcare industry is facing an unprecedented challenge.
Each day the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 increases, while
resources to help fight this pandemic continue to dwindle," said
Vyomesh Joshi ("VJ"), president and
CEO, 3D Systems. "The healthcare professionals who are putting
their lives on the line to treat affected patients soon will run
out of the equipment needed to care for these patients or to keep
themselves safe. One of the greatest benefits of additive
manufacturing is that it allows companies to reduce the dependency
on the supply chain, manufacture parts internally or make them on
demand. And this is what we're asking our network, and encouraging
the industry to help us do right now – circumvent the supply chain
to manufacture these PPE and life-saving devices as quickly as
possible."
The company has already seen applications of its technology and
software being used to help in COVID-19 efforts. 3D Systems'
customer Lonati SpA, a manufacturing company based in Brescia,
Italy, deployed a 3D Systems
ProX® SLS 6100 3D printer with DuraForm®
materials to 3D print more than 100 venturi ventilator valves for
respiratory machines, which are facing a critical shortage
throughout the world because severe cases of COVID-19 require
intensive care and oxygenation.
3D Systems is a recognized leader in medical device design and
manufacturing. The company's deep experience and expertise in 3D
printing, engineering, quality control, and regulatory requirements
have enabled production of nearly 1 million medical devices. As 3D
Systems engages in production of medical devices to support
healthcare teams globally, they will do so only under FDA Emergency
Use Authorization announcement and corresponding issuance of letter
of authorization, or with cooperation of the medical equipment
companies to qualify units as an equivalent component. This will
help accelerate utilization of these components to by the
healthcare industry.
Bridging the Supply Chain with On Demand
Manufacturing
3D Systems' is providing direct support
through its worldwide network of On Demand manufacturing
facilities. The company has the industry's most comprehensive
offering of manufacturing solutions, from consulting and design
through to both additive and subtractive manufacturing
capabilities, that are enabling production of parts to help offset
the growing need for medical supplies.
- 3D Systems is currently producing prototypes of the same valves
proven in emergency hospital conditions in Italy in its facilities in Rock Hill, South Carolina and Lawrenceburg, Tennessee for emergency COVID-19
response efforts. The company anticipates it has the capacity to
deliver up to 12,600 units per week in clear plastic, and another
1,400 per week in durable Nylon.
- 3D Systems' On Demand facility in Pinerolo, Italy partnered with Isinnova (Brescia,
Italy) to produce 100 valves
enabling creation of an emergency ventilator mask. Isinnova was
contacted by Dr. Renato Favero, a
former head physician of the Gardone Valtrompia Hospital, who had
the idea to create an emergency ventilator mask by modifying a
snorkeling mask in market courtesy of Decathlon (France). Through modifications to the CAD
file, a new component was designed to connect the mask to the
ventilator. 3D Systems' On Demand team produced these parts in PA12
material and sealed them with Dichtol to make them air-tight and
sterilisable with the common hospital methods such as autoclave or
disinfectant detergents.
New Ultrasound Simulation to Aid COVID-19 Care
3D
Systems has also developed a new COVID-19 module for its
Simbionix U/S Mentor simulator, and is making it generally
available March 30 to help provide
hands-on experience in the education of point-of-care ultrasound
skills that are essential in triage and monitoring of the
coronavirus. Lung ultrasound is considered an alternative to chest
radiography or CT scanning in COVID-19 patients. It is safe, easy
and quick for use at point-of-care, repeatable, low cost and
radiation-free. Therefore, training physicians to rapidly acquire
lung ultrasound skills can be critical for the success of COVID-19
management. This module is provided free of charge to existing
customers using 3D Systems' Simbionix simulators such as
educational institutions, hospitals and healthcare organizations
worldwide.
Additionally, as institutions shift to distance learning
programs during the coronavirus, 3D Systems is offering an
abundance e-learning resources free-of-charge during the pandemic.
These remote learning tools span a wide range of medical
specialties, tasks and procedures, and can be accessed from the
company's website.
"We're stepping up and doing our part to connect people in need
with those who can help using digital manufacturing solutions, and
we've received offers from the community for everything from
printer materials, usage of facilities for printing, engineers'
time and expertise, and even offering to fund efforts," said Joshi.
"If your organization can help in any way, please reach out to us,
so we can start the conversation. Collaboration will be the key to
saving lives."
For more information about 3D Systems' efforts to help combat
COVID-19 or to start a conversation about how your organization can
work with 3D Systems, please visit the company's site.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this release that are not statements
of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of the company to be
materially different from historical results or from any future
results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. In many cases, forward-looking statements can be
identified by terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "may,"
"will," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the
negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.
Forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs,
assumptions, and current expectations and may include comments as
to the company's beliefs and expectations as to future events and
trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to
uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the
company. The factors described under the headings "Forward-Looking
Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the company's periodic filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other
factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those
reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although
management believes that the expectations reflected in the
forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking
statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of
future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to
be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or
results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included
are made only as of the date of the statement. 3D Systems
undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking
statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result
of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or
otherwise.
About 3D Systems
More than 30 years ago, 3D Systems
brought the innovation of 3D printing to the manufacturing
industry. Today, as the leading AM solutions company, it empowers
manufacturers to create products and business models never before
possible through transformed workflows. This is achieved with the
Company's best-of-breed digital manufacturing ecosystem - comprised
of plastic and metal 3D printers, print materials, on-demand
manufacturing services and a portfolio of end-to-end manufacturing
software. Each solution is powered by the expertise of the
company's application engineers who collaborate with customers to
transform manufacturing environments. 3D Systems' solutions address
a variety of advanced applications for prototyping through
production in markets such as aerospace, automotive, medical,
dental and consumer goods. More information on the company is
available at www.3dsystems.com.
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SOURCE 3D Systems