Mario Gomes, Senior ICU Nurse
Making it easier for everybody.
"I realised it wasn’t adequate and easy to use equipment that could ensure the safety of procedures, patients, and professionals"
“As a nurse who is part of a wonderful surgical team providing health care to Covid-19 patients, I had to study hard and prepare myself the best I could – and very rapidly - to face this imminent pandemic. During this time of study and preparation, I noticed that according to the latest protocols for approaching COVID-19 patients, a complete clamping of the endotracheal tube is required during intubation. Then, I realized that, In my opinion, there wasn’t adequate and easy to use equipment that could ensure the safety of procedures, patients, and professionals and, at the same time, easily accessible for all the professionals in Portugal (and later, the rest of the world).
At that very moment, I understood that I had to see this problem as a challenge and an opportunity to apply some of the skills I developed with my 3D modeling and printing hobby to my professional life. With the immediate support of my good friend Márcio Pereira who has the same 3D modeling hobby (a professional musician and an expert in developing 3D models), I could materialize the idea in my mind. He also helped to make this device accessible to almost every professional and institution through a volunteering network of 3D-printer owners who offered to take charge of printing thousands of high-quality devices in record time. The devices were soon handed over to those who needed them the most all throughout the country (we couldn’t even imagine that this would happen worldwide!).
Countries such as England, Sweden, Spain, Canada, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, and Bolivia have ordered the final design for local production.
It took thousands of hours and kilograms of plastic, as well as many design improvements, to get to the final versions. Countries such as England, Sweden, Spain, Canada, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, and Bolivia have ordered the final design for local production.
I am immensely grateful to all the community of wonderful printers. I really appreciate their effort, offered in exchange for helping thousands of health professionals in Portugal to improve the quality of their work.
People Involved in this Project:
Mario Gomes, Senior ICU Nurse
Pedro Duarte - Dupal UK
Tiago Caritra - Industrial Design
Márcio Pereira - 3D Production
Pedro Lopes - Digital and Brand Design
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