A smart mask for active defense against airborne pathogens

Abstract

Face masks are a primary preventive measure against airborne pathogens. Thus, they have become one of the keys to controlling the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Common examples, including N95 masks, surgical masks, and face coverings, are passive devices that minimize the spread of suspended pathogens by inserting an aerosol-filtering barrier between the user’s nasal and oral cavities and the environment. However, the filtering process does not adapt to changing pathogen levels or other environmental factors, which reduces its effectiveness in real-world scenarios. This paper addresses the limitations of passive masks by proposing ADAPT, a smart IoT-enabled “active mask”. This wearable device contains a real-time closed-loop control system that senses airborne particles of different sizes near the mask by using an on-board particulate matter (PM) sensor. It then intelligently mitigates the threat by using mist spray, generated by a piezoelectric actuator, to load nearby aerosol particles such that they rapidly fall to the ground. The system is controlled by an on-board micro-controller unit that collects sensor data, analyzes it, and activates the mist generator as necessary. A custom smartphone application enables the user to remotely control the device and also receive real-time alerts related to recharging, refilling, and/or decontamination of the mask before reuse. Experimental results on a working prototype confirm that aerosol clouds rapidly fall to the ground when the mask is activated, thus significantly reducing PM counts near the user. Also, usage of the mask significantly increases local relative humidity levels.

Beyond Pathogen Filtration: Possibility of Smart Masks as Wearable Devices for Personal and Group Health and Safety Management

“…Sensors that sense and react to biosignals, environmental conditions, or stimuli, such as those from breath, skin, head motion, air, or other sources, were investigated. Multiple biosignal sources can be recorded around the face with sensors incorporated into the smart masks to measure biosignals and interior or exterior environmental factors [ 22 , 39 ].…”

“…A smart mask can also measure air pollution and several other environmental variables such as air quality [ 22 , 39 ], temperature [ 62 ], and humidity [ 63 - 65 ]. The inclusion of sensing air-tightness and the quality of filters can help ensure the additional benefits of smart masks by improving safety by providing an air-tight fit around the face.…”

Multistage-Split Ultrafine Fluffy Nanofibrous Membrane for High-Efficiency Antibacterial Air Filtration

“…The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) still cannot be eliminated and is prone to produce harmful mutants. − For example, the World Health Organization has warned that the Omicron variant may significantly reduce the antibodies in the human body. Fortunately, no matter how SARS-CoV-2 mutates, masks can provide effective protection against airborne ultrafine particles carrying SARS-CoV-2. − Moreover, the bacterial spread in air filters harms human health. − Hence, high-efficiency, low-resistance air filters with strong antibacterial activity should be developed.…”

Smart Face Mask with an Integrated Heat Flux Sensor for Fast and Remote People’s Healthcare Monitoring

“…The widespread use of the masks allows us to think of other applications and uses different from those expected in medical or hospital environments [7] for remote monitoring or in industrial environments [8]. Accordingly, a new generation of wearable devices that receives the name of smart masks has attracted the interest of different research groups [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. In [7], a personalized smart mask obtained from a 3D scanned face image, whose objective is to minimize skin irritation is proposed.…”

“…However, the temperature sensor is based on a thermistor connected to a microcontroller that exclusively monitors the air temperature. In [9,12], a smart mask senses particles of different sizes suspended in the air and close to it by using an onboard particulate matter (PM) sensor. Another example of a smart mask is proposed in [10], where a self-powered device based on a textile triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is proposed to electrocute virus-loaded aerosols.…”