If at any time you have had a test to detect COVID-19 that requires the use of a nasal swab, it is very likely that you have already discovered that it is not a very comfortable experience.
Part of the problem has to do with how long the swab must stay inside the nose (10-15 seconds), which helps to ensure that it is absorbed and a much more adequate sample is obtained.
However, since March 2020, the company OPT Industries , born from the research of 3D printing at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), has been working with different hospitals in order to develop a new type of nasal swab for tests for COVID-19 .
And the result has been the creation of a new type of swab capable of absorbing samples more quickly , also standing out for being much better for subsequent analysis .
Jifei Ou , founder of this company, spent seven years at MIT researching new approaches that would allow to take full advantage of the different 3D printing techniques for the creation of new highly engineered materials that imitate existing materials that we find naturally in nature. , as might be the case with the intricate structure of a bird’s feathers.
Upon graduation, Ou continued his research at his company, building on his previous work at MIT to create new types of engineering materials for different applications. Until the arrival of InstaSwab , considered one of the best nasal swabs so far.
What is a nasal swab and how is InstaSwab different?
A nasal swab basically consists of an elongated swab with an absorbent tip made of materials such as cotton, foam, or polyester, and a handle made of rolled paper, plastic, or wood.
Although it is true that they are characterized by being simple to use and inexpensive to mass-manufacture, the reality is that they were not designed prioritizing greater patient comfort , since the existence of a rigid handle, even when it is extremely useful to the patient. time to remove it easily, it can also end up making the experience very unpleasant.
In fact, as many specialists agree, what worsens the situation is the time necessary for the utensil to remain inserted into the patient’s nasal cavity in order to ensure adequate and correct sample collection: up to 15 seconds, obviously prolonging the discomfort.
Based on Ou’s research, his company designed a nasal swab with a flexible polymer structure and a highly absorbent tip made from a tiny woven lattice .
This unique structure allows it to be compressed very easily as it passes through the narrower parts of the nasal cavity, while the exerter can bend and flex thereby improving patient comfort during the insertion process.
On the other hand, it is capable of absorbing faster the materials necessary for the analysis of the sample , so that it is not essential that the swab remains inside the patient’s nose for so many seconds.
What’s more, when it comes to releasing the sample later, this new nasal swab has proven to be much more efficient than other materials such as polyester or cotton, providing up to 20 times more bacteria for a test, which would positively help when to increase the precision of the results .
At the moment, the company has indicated that it is capable of producing about 80,000 nasal swabs per day, while it is working on new versions of its machinery in order to further accelerate its production.
