3DEXPERIENCE WORKS in action with "Helpful Engineers" for the design of N95 alternative half-face respirator

WHY : mask shortage

WHAT  : We aim to mass produced using traditional manufacturing proceses a resuable, sterilizable, filter-media agnostic N95 alternative half-face respirator.

We have identified an ideal candidate filter media working with https://www.hollingsworth-vose.com/ that meets spec for our given cross-sectional area.

HOW : Last week I received a call from our good friend Matt Carney - you might remember him from Day 1 general session at 3DEXPERIENCE World in Nashville. He was with Gian Paolo on stage talking about the future of prosthetics. Matt told me that he is working with an organization https://www.helpfulengineering.org/ to create mass-produced, using traditional manufacturing processes, a reusable, sterilizable, filter-media agnostic N95 alternative half-face respirator.

The team of 8 engineers across (Spain, Portugal, US, Boston, Seattle) involved was using various CAD systems - the majority of them using SOLIDWORKS. Matt's challenge was managing the CAD version across the team of distributed engineers. Well, we good over the phone last week and onboarded all 8 engineers on the 3DEPXERIENCE Platform so that we can use SOLIDWORKS Connector (Power By).
Within a couple of hours, all engineers were cranking and happily collaborating. Since then they have made tremendous progress which you can check out GitHub https://gitlab.cba.mit.edu/mcarney/maskproject

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The RIGID respirator mask is designed for highly scalable production and repeatable efficacy in scalable industrial materials. We are starting to roll this device into large-scale production.

  • Finalizing prototypes to optimize face fit, filter interface, and overall assembly features.

  • Face fit is based on standardized ISO models.

  • Currently partnered with Massachusetts General Hospital to perform formal validation of the design.

  • Aggressively pursuing NIOSH and FDA certifications.

  • Versus nonwoven construction N95 style masks, the RIGID respirator mask provides drastically increased durability, sterilizability, user comfort, and filter compatibility.



The design goals for the RIGID Respirator aims for an alternative filtering face-piece respirator (FFR) that is:

  • Equivalent to the filtration efficacy of an N95 rated mask
  • Reusable, fully sterilizable, fully cleanable
  • Simple to use and maintain comfort for 4+ hours
  • Replaceable low cost filter
  • Suitable for a wide range of face sizes and shapes
  • Designed for rapid and sustainable quality mass production
  • Bidirectional filtering helps to contain and prevent infection
  • Economical at \$15-20 per mask wholesale

License 

Open source design under the CERN-OHL-P license