Healthcare professionals have been wearing face masks more than usual to protect themselves and their patients from further spreading COVID-19. The extended use has led to discomfort as elastic bands rub and irritate skin. When a doctor at Vassar Hospital said they were in need of extenders because their face coverings were uncomfortable on their ears, Joshua Chirillo stepped up to the plate to provide some relief by using his 3D printer.
“My step father’s friends from Vassar Hospital contacted him and asked if anyone had the ability to create these extenders,” Chirillio said. “I did some research and went on a website called Thingiverse and I found a model for these extenders and was able to print them from there.”
Chirillo, a Cornwall High School senior, is looking to study computer engineering in college.
About a year ago, he used some birthday money to purchase a 3D printer. “I love computers; I love technology, so I thought I would try it out.”
Experimenting with the printer, Chirillo created tiny animals for a school project, a door bracket for his desk, and a Raspberry Pi case.
With some experience under his belt, printing the extenders was a fairly easy process. Someone had already posted a design which was approved by the National Institute of Health.
It was just a matter of uploading it to the printer. Chirillo said the build was not complex, but he did have to spend about 90 minutes playing around with the temperature and the type of plastic to determine the perfect settings.
The device is capable of printing four extenders in 90 minutes, so Chirillo is able to let the printer run while he continues about his day doing other things like school work.
In just two weeks, Chirillo has printed over 200 extenders and donated them to Vassar Hospital, Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, the Cornwall Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Helen Hayes, and New York Presbyterian.
He said he will continue printing them so long as there’s a need for them.
“I think of it as a fun way for me to contribute to the issues going on right now. While I can’t go out of my house to do anything, at least I’m able to do something at home.”
