Additive manufacturing and the COVID-19 challenges: An in-depth study

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Materials Science
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented demand for medical equipment and PPE.
• Global lockdowns severely disrupted traditional supply chains.
• Healthcare systems faced immense pressure due to the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically summarize and critically analyze additive manufacturing (AM) efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To document additively manufactured products designed, invented, and produced in response to the pandemic.
• To highlight challenges and provide insights for future AM applications in health crises.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of AM community contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Analysis of additively manufactured medical equipment and PPE.
• Documentation of design, production, and implementation processes.

Main Results:

• Additive manufacturing (AM) rapidly produced critical components for ventilators, nasopharyngeal swabs, face masks, and face shields.
• AM offered design customization, rapid prototyping, and reduced lead times, effectively addressing supply chain shortages.
• The AM community demonstrated significant adaptability and innovation in response to the health crisis.

Conclusions:

• Additive manufacturing (AM) proved to be a vital supplementary manufacturing process during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• AM's flexibility and speed were instrumental in mitigating supply chain disruptions for essential medical goods.
• This review serves as a historical record and a stimulus for future advancements in AM for public health emergencies.