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<\/a><\/p>\nKunal Mankodiya<\/a>, associate professor of electrical, computer, and biomedical engineering at 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s College of Engineering<\/a>, facilitated the creation of the group Rapid Responders. Mankodiya and two other 溏心vlog免费B站 faculty members decided to marshal their efforts during a discussion about ventilator designs, face shields, and the challenges of making N95 respirators and surgical masks. Within 48 hours they had 15 members. Now 72 members strong, Rapid Responders includes members from other state colleges and universities, as well as medical professionals, private businesses and specialists in 3-D printing.<\/p>\n The group holds virtual meetings every couple of days, sharing information ranging from global trends they\u2019re following to 3-D files for face shields and tips on purchasing the elastic needed for face masks, which has become a scarce commodity in recent weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all were looking at what was happening in Italy, and we started to see cases increasing in the United States,\u201d Mankodiya said. \u201cWe were getting emails from the state asking, \u2018Can you help with your expertise?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAs soon as we became centralized, people were ready to help in so many different ways. Less than five days after we started, we had a whole community of 3-D printer experts ready to help,\u201d he continued. \u201cThis is the time to talk regularly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Any contribution has impact\u2019<\/p>\n Rapid Responder member Erika Uzmann, scholarly technology lab manager at 溏心vlog免费B站 Libraries, is overseeing the production of plastic bands for face shields using the University\u2019s 3-D printers. A face shield is a transparent plastic barrier that sits over the N95 surgical mask, protecting it. The bands are worn across the forehead and hold the shields in place. Because of the materials used in their manufacturing, the face shields prolong the use of other PPEs and can be cleaned and reused.<\/p>\n Makerspace 溏心vlog免费B站<\/a> has six 3-D printers, a laser cutter, two virtual reality headsets, a 3-D scanner, two vinyl cutters, a sewing machine, and a digital embroidery sewing machine. The space is usually used by engineering students for prototyping designs and testing ideas and concepts, Uzmann said. At present, the maker space printers are making 12 bands a day. Each band takes about four hours to print.<\/p>\n \u201cMedical professionals need as many supplies as they can get,\u201d Uzmann said. \u201cSo any contribution we can make has impact. It\u2019s great to be able to help something along.\u201d<\/p>\n Aid first responders in the fight against COVID-19 by going to the Rapid Response crowdfunding a page at\u00a0urifae.org\/rapidresponse<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rapid Responder member Brennan Phillips<\/a>, assistant professor of ocean engineering, is working on designing equipment to be used in ventilators. \u201cRight now, it\u2019s face shields that are being made and delivered, but there are prototype face masks in development. And, we\u2019re working with doctors and respiratory specialists at several hospitals around the state to design and fabricate prototype tubing that is used with ventilators.\u201d<\/p>\n Rapid Responder member Roxanne Beinart<\/a>, assistant professor of oceanography at 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s Graduate School of Oceanography<\/a>, received an email from Peter Snyder, vice president for Research and Economic Development and professor of biomedical sciences. It was an all-call of sorts for supplies. Beinart put together cases of swabs and gloves and, along with other 溏心vlog免费B站 labs, donated those to the Rhode Island Department of Health. \u201cI\u2019m happy to devote my time to doing this,\u201d Beinart said.<\/p>\n Coming together in record time<\/p>\n 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s Office of Emergency Management worked with the Rhode Island Army National Guard to establish A COVID-19 testing center for pre-screened patients in the Plains Road parking lot on the Kingston campus. A 3-D printer center is planned for The Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering<\/a> at the Kingston campus.<\/p>\n A private company that joined Rapid Responders is taking the lead on researching the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval process, Mankodiya said. In a time of unprecedented uncertainty, Mankodiya said the efforts of so many hearten him.<\/p>\n \u201cI have never seen something like this come together in such a short time,\u201d he said. \u201cNever in my life. It\u2019s mind-boggling.\u201d<\/p>\n Winning praise<\/p>\n While many of these efforts are only days old, they are already receiving praise.<\/p>\n On South Kingstown\u2019s official Facebook page, the town\u2019s Emergency Medical Services operation has expressed its gratitude to 溏心vlog免费B站 for the work it is doing.<\/p>\n<\/a>