Development of mask design as personal protective equipment through 3D printing.

This project aimed to develop an innovative mask design, aided by 3D printing technology that was able to protect its wearers against virus infection. The project was motivated with the intention of helping to fight Covid-19, but that its use was extensive as an option to N95 and similar masks, already on the market, even after the pandemic. Whose main design objective was that the mask had a sealing efficiency based on a half-face mask and that it could be used in conjunction with masks made of antiviral fabrics, such as, for example, a surgical mask that has its filtering capacity already tested and approved and, which would be the filter element of the mask. The mask was also intended to be reusable so that it could be washed for cleaning, with only the fabric filter element being disposable.

Virtual segmentation of three-dimensional ultrasound images of morphological structures of an ex vivo ectopic pregnancy inside a fallopian tube.

Ex vivo ultrasound (US) of human tissues has been used for decades on the study of the acoustic physical aspects of the US, to the study of the morphology of the organs. Using three-dimensional (3D) US, we demonstrate the possibilities to study surgical specimens from gynecological conditions. 3D images of the surgical specimen were collected and virtually segmented according to the contrast of its images, providing a 3D image of the ectopic pregnancy and its effects on the fallopian tube.

Prenatal Phenotype of Down Syndrome Using 3-D Virtual Reality.

BACKGROUND: Down syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality characterized by an additional acrocentric chromosome, resulting in an aneuploid number of 47 chromosomes (trisomy 21). Fetal face phenotype of Down syndrome is typical in the second trimester and characterized by plane face and a big and protruding tongue. CASE: We present a case of Down syndrome at 29 weeks of gestation in which the fetal face was created using 3-D virtual reality model from 3-D ultrasound scan data. CONCLUSION: A 3-D virtual model from 3-D ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging scan data allowed an immersive real environment, improving the understanding of fetal congenital anomalies by the parents and the medical team.

Virtual Reconstruction and Three-Dimensional Printing of Blood Cells as a Tool in Cell Biology Education.

The cell biology discipline constitutes a highly dynamic field whose concepts take a long time to be incorporated into the educational system, especially in developing countries. Amongst the main obstacles to the introduction of new cell biology concepts to students is their general lack of identification with most teaching methods. The introduction of elaborated figures, movies and animations to textbooks has given a tremendous contribution to the learning process and the search for novel teaching methods has been a central goal in cell biology education. Some specialized tools, however, are usually only available in advanced research centers or in institutions that are traditionally involved with the development of novel teaching/learning processes, and are far from becoming reality in the majority of life sciences schools. When combined with the known declining interest in science among young people, a critical scenario may result. This is especially important in the field of electron microscopy and associated techniques, methods that have greatly contributed to the current knowledge on the structure and function of different cell biology models but are rarely made accessible to most students. In this work, we propose a strategy to increase the engagement of students into the world of cell and structural biology by combining 3D electron microscopy techniques and 3D prototyping technology (3D printing) to generate 3D physical models that accurately and realistically reproduce a close-to-the native structure of the cell and serve as a tool for students and teachers outside the main centers. We introduce three strategies for 3D imaging, modeling and prototyping of cells and propose the establishment of a virtual platform where different digital models can be deposited by EM groups and subsequently downloaded and printed in different schools, universities, research centers and museums, thereby modernizing teaching of cell biology and increasing the accessibility to modern approaches in basic science.