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Italian engineers are turning scuba diving masks into ventilators to help hospitals battle the coronavirus pandemic.

Start-up Italian 3D printer business Isinnova had already helped a hospital print replacement ventilator valves.

But now the firm has started making a 3D printed adapter capable of converting a snorkeling mask into a functional C-PAP mask for oxygen therapy which is critical to help people with severe cases of COVID-19.

(Image: FILIPPO VENEZIA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

It comes as the number of coronavirus deaths in Italy rose to 6,077 with 63,927 confirmed cases.

According to reports doctors in Italy have been told to save ventilators for the under-60s due to a major shortage.

Gardone Valtrompia Hospital head physician Renato Favero came up with the scuba mask idea and contacted the team at Isinnova, according to a blog post.

(Image: FabFactory)

The team then contacted sports chain Decathlon to see if they could use their “Easybreath” snorkelling mask in the project and Decathlon was “immediately willing to cooperate.”

“Doctor Favero shared with us an idea to fix the possible shortage of hospital C-PAP masks for sub-intensive therapy, which is emerging as a concrete problem linked to the spread of Covid-19,” reads the post.

(Image: FILIPPO VENEZIA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

(Image: FILIPPO VENEZIA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

“It’s the construction of an emergency ventilator mask, realised by adjusting a snorkeling mask already available on the market.”

A 3D printed prototype was tested on hospital staff and “proven to be correctly working” before it was used for the first time successfully on a patient in need.

The company made 100 valves and CEO Cristian Fracassi personally delivered them to a local hospital.

(Image: FILIPPO VENEZIA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

However, the inventors say that their new invention should only be used in emergency situations.

It said: “We are reiterating that the idea is designed for healthcare facilities and wants to help in realization of an emergency mask in the case of a full-blown difficult situation, where is not possible to in find official healthcare supplies. Neither the mask nor the link are certified and their use is subject to a situation of mandatory need.

“Usage by the patient is subjected to the acceptance of use of an uncertified biomedical device, by providing a signed declaration.

Whereas the effectiveness of the project, we decided to urgently patent the link valve (Charlotte Valve), to prevent any speculation on the price of the component.

“We clarify that the patent will remain free to use, because it is in our intention that all hospitals in need could use it if necessary.

“We decided to freely share the file for the realization of the link in 3d printing. Unlike the respirator valve, the link is easy to make, so it is possible for all makers to try to print it correctly.

“Healthcare facilities in difficulty will be able to purchase the Decathlon mask and get in contact with 3d printers who could make the piece and provide it.

“We clarify that our initiative is totally non-profit, we will not obtain any royalties on the idea of the link, nor on the sales of Decathlon masks.”

Isinnova have now patented the link valve called the ‘Charlotte Valve’ and said it will remain “free to use” so that all hospitals around the world could use it “if necessary”.