On Apr. 3, 2020, a team of Texas A&M University researchers led by Michael R. Moreno, in collaboration with Houston Methodist Hospital, announced they had delivered 200 3D-printed diffusers for metered dose inhalers (MDI) to the Houston hospital.

The spacer, or diffuser, allow the doctors to use metered dose inhalers to treat diagnosed and suspected COVID-19 patients who are not yet in need of ventilator therapy, without using nebulizers that may aerosolize the virus.

While ventilators are reserved for patients experiencing severe symptoms, respiratory inhalers are a part of the early treatment plan for most hospitalized patients exhibiting signs of COVID-19 infection. Bronchodilator drugs used for treatment of asthma can be utilized in COVID-19 patients to improve their ability to breathe. In the hospital setting, these would typically be administered using nebulizers.

The concern is that the use of nebulizers could aerosolize the virus, placing those in the area at higher risk of contracting the disease. Consequently, inhalers are the preferred method of delivery for these drugs with confirmed and potential COVID-19 patients. The inhaler devices require precise timing of inhalation for proper delivery to the lungs, which is something Moreno said even experienced users, like himself, can find challenging. With the help of a diffuser, patients are better able to get more of the medication into their lungs.

Additionally, the team has designed an alternate, smaller 3D-printable device designed for areas that may be more resource limited. This device is essentially an inhaler interface that allows one to use a common plastic water bottle as the diffuser chamber.