Italian hospital runs out of a crucial valve. Two Italian innovators make it using a 3D printer

I absolutely love it when people think outside the box to solve a critical problem.  In this case..

Italy has been particularly hard hit by the virus.  A hospital had run out of a valve used to treat patients.  The company that makes the valve--which they sell for over $10,000--said they couldn't possibly supply replacements fast enough to help.

A pair of Italian innovators then offered to try to duplicate the valve using their 3D printer.  They contacted the company asking to download copies of drawings that would let them do that, but the person they talked to said that wasn't possible since the valve's design was patented. 

Apparently no one at the company thought to offer to sell the Italians a one-time license for ten bucks, or some such.

Fortunately the innovators were able to measure all the critical dimensions of the valve and began to make 'em with their 3D printer.  Success--and at a cost of about one dollar each!

Wait, surely that must be a typo.  How could the Italian guys make something for a buck if the original company had been selling the things for $10,000 apiece?? 

Maybe it's the cost of complying with all the FDA rules and paperwork, eh?

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