Steve Baudains, of Imperial Light and Magic, has worked with a local GP to produce an attachment that enables medical air filters to be attached to a snorkelling mask.
The 3D printing process builds a three-dimensional object from a computer-aided-design model, usually by adding material layer by layer.
Mr Baudains, who has temporarily diversified away from his day-job of making custom sound and light
systems, said he was pleased to be providing help that meant an everyday item such as a snorkelling mask could be adapted for use in a medical environment.
Working with Dr James Newton, of David Place Surgery, Mr Baudains has modified the design, and is also working on other items of equipment for possible use in the future.
The adapters can be produced in about 90 minutes on a 3D printer, and Mr Baudains is working with three partners to produce them.
‘Quality control is very important, which is why I did all the prototyping myself and am working with a small network so that we make sure we are using the exact specification and not taking any shortcuts,’ he said.
Mr Baudains said that he was not currently expecting the adapters and masks to be used in a hospital setting at this stage, but that they could play a role in community settings such as GP surgeries and nursing homes or by care agencies.
The advent of 3D printing has had a ‘revolutionary’ effect on his business, Mr Baudains said.
‘It makes it possible to envisage something on a computer and then make it appear. Once you have created a file then the product can be reproduced over and over.’
Last month dentist Ivo Raitchev shared the results of his 3D-printing initiative in producing a protective face shield.
