Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Distributed Manufacturing of Open-Source Medical Hardware for Pandemics

Version 1 : Received: 4 April 2020 / Approved: 6 April 2020 / Online: 6 April 2020 (12:38:59 CEST)



A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists. Pearce JM. Distributed Manufacturing of Open Source Medical Hardware for Pandemics. Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing. 2020, 4(2), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp4020049 Pearce JM. Distributed Manufacturing of Open Source Medical Hardware for Pandemics. Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing. 2020, 4(2), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp4020049 Copy Journal reference: Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing 2020, 4, 49

DOI: 10.3390/jmmp4020049

Cite as: Pearce JM. Distributed Manufacturing of Open Source Medical Hardware for Pandemics. Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing. 2020, 4(2), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp4020049 Pearce JM. Distributed Manufacturing of Open Source Medical Hardware for Pandemics. Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing. 2020, 4(2), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp4020049 Copy CANCEL COPY CITATION DETAILS

Abstract

Distributed digital manufacturing offers a solution to medical supply and technology shortages during pandemics. To prepare for the next pandemic, this study reviews the state-of-the-art for open hardware designs needed in a COVID-19-like pandemic. It evaluates the readiness of the top twenty technologies requested by the Government of India. The results show that the majority of the actual medical products have had some open source development, however, only 15% of the supporting technologies that make the open source device possible are freely available. The results show there is still considerable work needed to provide open source paths for the development of all the medical hardware needed during pandemics. Five core areas of future work are discussed that include: i) technical development of a wide-range of open source solutions for all medical supplies and devices, ii) policies that protect the productivity of laboratories, makerspaces and fabrication facilities during a pandemic, as well as iii) streamlining the regulatory process, iv) developing Good-Samaritan laws to protect makers and designers of open medical hardware, as well as to compel those with knowledge that will save lives to share it, and v) requiring all citizen-funded research to be released with free and open source licenses.

Subject Areas

pandemic; influenza pandemic; open source; open hardware; COVID-19; COVID-19 pandemic; medical hardware; open source medicine

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