Belgium-based developer of 3D printing technology Materialise has designed a 3D printed door opener that allows people to use their arms to open and shut doors without touching the doorknobs, according to Taiwan's Photonics Industry & Technology Development Association (PIDA).
This can avoid coming into contact with the coronavirus that is believed to be able to stay on the surface of doorknobs for a long time, PIDA said.
Materialise has called for 3D printing service providers around the world to use its design to print the opener, PIDA said.
Isinnova, an Italy-based startup, has designed a 3D printed respirator valves and reportedly has printed 100 units for a hospital in Brescia, northern Italy. The hospital, which has a large number of coronavirus patients, needs many respirator valves, each of which can be used for up to eight hours only. The cost for a 3D printed valve reportedly is less than EUR1 (US$1.13).