In these strangest of times, where our global civilization is under siege from a virus, stories like these make me most proud to be a human.
These 3D-printed valves are pieces that need to be replaced for each patient using a ventilator. They were printed by Cristian Fracassi (@cristianfracass), a civil engineer with a Ph.D. in polymer science, and Alessandro Romaioli, a mechanical engineer, to help nearby hospitals keep up the fight against coronavirus amidst the shortage of supplies.
They have already started a second adaptation using scuba masks: https://www.isinnova.it/easy-covid19-eng/. For those who have a 3D printer, there are links to print the adaptive pieces at home.
Together, with innovation, and patience, and determination, we can survive.