The Box

New York Tech is doing its part to help local hospitals during the COVID-19 crisis. The College of Engineering and Computing Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Architecture and Design, and the College of Osteopathic Medicine have teamed up to 3D print PPE (specifically face shields) that are currently in high demand by healthcare workers. This NY Tech-wide effort is led by Suzanne Musho, chief architect and vice president for capital planning and facilities management.

Staff and faculty from the four departments involved, including David Fanning, Laboratory Engineer at the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences, Michael Nizich, Ph.D., Director of the Entrepreneurship & Technology Innovation Center, and Kevin Park, Assistant Professor at the College of Arts and Sciences, have taken home Makerbot 3D printers from the NY Tech Long Island Campus to 3D print face shields and other parts at their homes to donate to local hospitals.

Makerbot 3D Printers and printed parts for face shields
Fanning took home the Makerbot Z18 and Makerbot Replicator+ from the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences Machine Shop. He has printed over 290 face shields so far. “There are two parts to the complete face shield, the 3D printed visor and a piece of clear plastic sheet that gets hole punched and attaches to the visor to act as the actual shield,” says Fanning. Along with the face shields, Park is working with Randy Stout, Assistant Professor at the College of Osteopathic Medicine, and his team to 3D print Y splitters for ventilator machines for local ICUs hospitals.

Professor Kevin Park wearing face shield
So far through this effort, New York Tech has donated to Saint Francis Hospital, DeMatteis Center for Cardiac Research, and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn Hospital, and Northwell Health, North Shore University Hospital, and other local ICUs. Additionally, the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences donated all of their 3M N95 masks from the machine shop to North Shore LIJ Hospital. Just over two boxes (47 masks total) were donated.

College of Engineering and Computing Sciences students are also doing their part during this pandemic. Students of Associate Professor, Aydin Farajidavar, Ph.D., are developing ventilators designs for patients affected by COVID-19.
Matthew Sinatro, an undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering major, and Ebad Syed, master’s candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering, are in the process of developing a portable ventilator for patients affected by Covid19. Kyle Pratt, undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering major, and Wenchen Dai, master’s candidate in Bioengineering are developing an inexpensive ventilator from components commonly found in the home environment.

Sinatro and Syed’s portable ventilator project in progress
“New York Institute of Technology is proud to be able to contribute to our local community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our technical expertise is one of our most important assets that can help our first responders,” says Babak D. Beheshti, Ph.D., dean of NYIT College of Engineering and Computing Sciences.

By Sarah McGough