YSoA Manufactures Medical Equipment for the Fight Against COVID-19

With the largest complement of digital fabrication equipment on campus, the School of Architecture has begun fabricating medical equipment needed by hospitals in efforts against COVID-19 as part of CHIME, the Coalition for Health Innovation in Medical Emergencies.

Nathan Burnell of the fabrication shop and Trevor Williams from the advanced technology team have been working on several prototyping efforts. Using extra mylar and elastic bands, the YSoA team laser cut 800 face shields for the hospital and other local organizations, meeting local need at shelters, soup kitchens, and elsewhere. The team has also tested several prototypes for 3D-printed ventilator multiplexers, which would allow a single ventilator to serve multiple patients. Burnell, along with Ben Danker, have also built six intubation boxes—intended to protect medical staff from virus exposure during intubation procedures—and have delivered them to three local hospitals. Yale Architecture has pooled its resources with New Haven’s Makerspace to build these components.

Associate Dean Phil Bernstein and Director of Advanced Technology Vincent Guerrero are collaborating with specialists in medical device design and manufacture from across the Yale Campus to ensure that all prototypes are high-quality and perform well in emergency scenarios. Other CHIME collaborators include Anjelica Gonzalez, associate professor of biomedical engineering; Dr. David Mulligan, professor of surgery; and Joe Zinter, director of the School of Engineering’s Center for Engineering Innovation and Design (CEID). In addition to the School of Architecture, the Wright Laboratory, the Neurotechnology Core at Yale’s medical campus, and the CEID are participating in fabrication efforts.

CHIME and the YSoA team will continue to prototype and manufacture thoroughly vetted medical devices for supply to local hospitals in need.