The Energy and Environmental Footprints of COVID-19 Fighting Measures - PPE, Disinfection, Supply Chains.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented health and economic worldwide crisis Innovative solutions are imperative given limited resources and immediate need for medical supplies, healthcare support and treatments The purpose of this review is to summarize emerging technologies being implemented in the study, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19 Key focus areas include the applications of artificial intelligence, the use of Big Data and Internet of Things, the importance of mathematical modeling for predictions, utilization of technology for community screening, the use of nanotechnology for treatment and vaccine development, the utility of telemedicine, the implementation of 3D-printing to manage new demands and the potential of robotics The review concludes by highlighting the need for collaboration in the scientific community with open sharing of knowledge, tools, and expertise

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Emerging Technologies for Use in the Study, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Patients with COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak affects not just populations but also global and local economies and supply chains The outbreak itself has impacted on production lines and manufacturing capacities In response to the outbreak, policies have been put in place that blocks the movement of people and materials, causing supply chain disruptions Mainstream supply chain management has been at a loss in responding to these disruptions, mostly due to a dominant focus on minimizing costs for stable operations, while following lean, just-in-time, and zero-inventory approaches On the other hand, pandemic response supply chains, and their related supply chain disruptions, share many characteristics with disaster response and thereby with humanitarian supply chains Much can thus be learned from humanitarian supply chains for managing pandemic-related supply chain disruptions What is more, facing, and managing, supply chain disruptions can be considered the new norm also in light of other disruptive forces such as climate change, or financial or political crises This article therefore presents lessons learned from humanitarian supply chains that help mitigate and overcome supply chain disruptions These lessons not only relate to preparedness and mobilization, but also relate to standardization, innovation, and collaboration Together, they brace organizations, supply chains, and societies, to manage current and future disruptions © 2020 The Authors Journal of Supply Chain Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jscm.12253

Lessons learned from humanitarian logistics to manage supply chain disruptions

The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has triggered great global public health concern. Face masks are essential tools to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 from human to human. However, there are still challenges to prolong the serving life and maintain the filtering performance of the current commercial mask. Filters composed of ultrafine fibers with diameter down to tens of nanometers have the potential to physically block viruses. With adjustable composition and nanostructures, the electrospun ultrafine fiber filter is possible to achieve other necessary functions beyond virus blocking, such as antiviral, transparent, and degradable, making it an important part of fighting the epidemic. In this review, beginning with the basic information of the viruses, we summarize the knowledge of masks and respirators, including the filtering mechanism, structure, classification, and standards. We further present the fabrication method, filtering performance, and reusable potential of electrospun ultrafine fiber-based masks. In the end, we discuss the development directions of ultrafine fibers in protective devices, especially their new functional applications and possible contributions in the prevention and control of the epidemic.

Electrospun ultrafine fibers for advanced face masks

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in Additive Manufacturing on 02/10/2021, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2021.102378 
The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.

Fused Deposition Modelling: Current Status, Methodology, Applications and Future Prospects

As of March 12, 2020, the World Health Organization classified coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic, at the time of writing affecting nearly every country and territory across the globe [1]. During this time of social and economic despair, global healthcare systems are under critical strain due to severe shortages of hospital beds and medical equipment. Patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Fig. 1), are at risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and a fraction will require high-level respiratory support to survive [2]. Additionally, significant strain has been placed on personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies required to protect the healthcare workers helping to treat critically ill patients during this pandemic. At the time of writing, there are active disruptions of medical supply chains throughout Europe and in the United States at the hospital level, particularly in the states of New York and Washington. The purpose of this Editorial is to highlight recent (as of April 1, 2020) initiatives and collaborations performed by companies, hospitals, and researchers in utilising 3D printing during the COVID-19 pandemic and to support local 3D printing efforts that can be lifesaving. The 3D printing community can refocus its medical attention internationally, capitalizing on centralized large-scale manufacturing facilities as well as locally distributed manufacturing of verified and tested CAD files. In addition, there are multiple medical, engineering, and other societies and groups that can pull together to work on common needs, many of which are outlined in this Editorial.

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COVID-19 and the role of 3D printing in medicine

There are three general categories of facial coverings in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: respirators such as N95 respirators, surgical masks, and community masks. This chapter describes the similarities and differences between each, and the experience from the University of Cincinnati in 3D printing several open-source designs for protection during the peak of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

3D Printing of Open-Source Respirators (Including N95 Respirators), Surgical Masks, and Community Mask Designs to Address COVID-19 Shortages

While the majority of 3D printing during the COVID-19 pandemic focused on medical devices such as face shields, there was a need for additional devices that fall outside the scope of a medical device as defined in the United States (US) by the US Food and Drug Administration. This chapter describes the 3D printing of mask tension relievers (used with face masks that are traditionally considered to be medical devices), door openers, and grommets.

3D Printing of Non-medical Devices During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The University of Cincinnati (UC) Department of Radiology established a group of makers to support local healthcare centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group spanned many UC faculties, collaborations with other academic institutions, and close industry collaboration. This chapter is an extract from the minutes accumulated from daily virtual group meetings were held for approximately a month as the team aimed at generating much needed PPE and other ad hoc products requested by providers both local and outside the groups geographic community.

Sam Antoline

Papers

COVID-19 and the role of 3D printing in medicine

3D Printing of Open-Source Respirators (Including N95 Respirators), Surgical Masks, and Community Mask Designs to Address COVID-19 Shortages

3D Printing of Non-medical Devices During the COVID-19 Pandemic

3D Printing and Other Manufacturing During COVID-19: Success Stories and Lessons Learned by Makers at the University of Cincinnati