3D Printing an Inflatable Bag

Background: Using FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printing to print adult, pediatric and newborn size self-inflating bags. This could be used as a last option if there is a need for inflatable bags similar to ambu bags.

Safety: These are NOT medical grade equipment, this is specifically made in order to have something similar to an ambu bag while there is a shortage, and unable to acquire one.

Self - Inflating Bag sizes:

Table 1: Data table from Ambu

https://www.ambu.com/emergency-care-and-training/resuscitators/product/ambu-oval-plus-silicone-resuscitator

Material Requirement:

In order to 3D print inflatable bag, it is required for the filament to be flexible such as Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), or Thermoplastic Copolyester (TPC).

Setup/Slicing Requirement:

• Layer Height: 0.23 mm

• Wall Thickness: 2 mm

• Wall Line count: 5

• Top/Bottom Thickness: 1 mm

• Reduce print speed to 25 mm/s - 45 mm/s

• Infill Speed/Outer and Inner Wall Speed: 35 mm/s

• Travel Speed: 70 mm/s

• No support needed

• Add brim adhesion (Brim Width: 4 mm)

• Increase extruder temperature to 220 - 245 C

• Disable retraction to avoid flexible stringing

• Increase bed temperature to 55 - 65 C

• Infill percentage 10% - 20%

• Shell thickness 1 mm or 2 lines

• Sufficient contact between filament to extrude (May need to upgrade extruder lever)

Print Sizes:

Since the bags have different sizes, not all 3D printers will be able to print all the sizes.

Table 2: Size data table from Ambu

Models:

Figure 1: Shows different generic inflatable bags, navy is for adults, green for pediatric and yellow for newborn. These models can be adjusted.

Figure 2: shows the inflatable bag 3D model, the dimensions can be changed by accessing the file and changing the sketch dimensions.

Slicing:

Figure 3: Displays the sliced model of the newborn inflatable bag size. The models should be printed in this position where the bigger hole sits on the build platform to help with adherence to the build plate and make it simpler to 3D print.

Figure 4: The sliced file, specifically focusing on the layer colors, the outer and inner walls are one line while the infill is four lines. The increased thickness is due to the fact that we want to avoid any holes in the model while printing, we want to make sure the model is solid to ensure leakage does not take place. Also, the blue lines, brims, on the first layer are crucial for adherence.

Figure 5: Sideways view of the before and after of squeezing a 3D printed inflatable bag.

Figure 6: An upright view of the before and after of squeezing a 3D printed inflatable bag.

Video:

Figure 7: A short clip demonstrating the flexibility of the bag.

Files:

Document & CAD Models