Innovative Smart Face Mask to Protect Workers from COVID-19 Infection

Fois, Andrea; Tocco, Filippo; Dell’osa, A. H.; Melis, Laura; Bertelli, U.; Concu, Alberto; Bertetto, Andrea Manuello; Serra, C.

doi:10.1109/memea52024.2021.9478739

Cited by 14 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The selection of other alternatives includes LG PuriCare™, Razer, AirPop, BreathTech-S3 and MaskFone, which are all already available products or coming to markets in 2021. Forcit (https://www.forcit.co/case/smart-face-masks) and AG-47 SmartMask [37] are ongoing projects, like Smart Mask, both already having prototypes for testing. Cloth masks, respirators, and surgical masks are non-smart masks, also included here for comparison purposes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smart mask – Wearable IoT solution for improved protection and personal health

et al. 2022

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smart mask – Wearable IoT solution for improved protection and personal health

et al. 2022

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“…While commercial smart masks were focused on user comfort, academic prototypes were designed for sensing capabilities such as health monitoring and disease detection. For example, in terms of COVID-19 detection, Nguyen et al [ 23 ] integrated a cell-free sensor to detect SARS-CoV-2, and Ye et al [ 24 ] and Fois et al [ 25 ] focused on detecting abnormalities such as coughing behavior. Not specific to COVID-19 but to cope with general respiratory disease, Lazaro et al [ 26 ], Escobedo et al [ 27 ], Zhong et al [ 28 ], Yang et al [ 29 ], Kim et al [ 30 ], and Pan et al [ 31 ] monitored breathing patterns.…”

Section: Features and Applications Of Current Smart Masks In The Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Lee¹,

Kim²,

Kim³

et al. 2022

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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Face masks are an important way to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the prolonged pandemic has revealed confounding problems with the current face masks, including not only the spread of the disease but also concurrent psychological, social, and economic complications. As face masks have been worn for a long time, people have been interested in expanding the purpose of masks from protection to comfort and health, leading to the release of various “smart” mask products around the world. To envision how the smart masks will be extended, this paper reviewed 25 smart masks (12 from commercial products and 13 from academic prototypes) that emerged after the pandemic. While most smart masks presented in the market focus on resolving problems with user breathing discomfort, which arise from prolonged use, academic prototypes were designed for not only sensing COVID-19 but also general health monitoring aspects. Further, we investigated several specific sensors that can be incorporated into the mask for expanding biophysical features. On a larger scale, we discussed the architecture and possible applications with the help of connected smart masks. Namely, beyond a personal sensing application, a group or community sensing application may share an aggregate version of information with the broader population. In addition, this kind of collaborative sensing will also address the challenges of individual sensing, such as reliability and coverage. Lastly, we identified possible service application fields and further considerations for actual use. Along with daily-life health monitoring, smart masks may function as a general respiratory health tool for sports training, in an emergency room or ambulatory setting, as protection for industry workers and firefighters, and for soldier safety and survivability. For further considerations, we investigated design aspects in terms of sensor reliability and reproducibility, ergonomic design for user acceptance, and privacy-aware data-handling. Overall, we aim to explore new possibilities by examining the latest research, sensor technologies, and application platform perspectives for smart masks as one of the promising wearable devices. By integrating biomarkers of respiration symptoms, a smart mask can be a truly cutting-edge device that expands further knowledge on health monitoring to reach the next level of wearables.

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“…Perhaps, face mask wearing enforcement in densely populated places is one of the most effective means to stop the spread of virus, as respiratory face masks are highly effective in blocking most respiratory droplets and aerosols. , Despite these efforts, the increase in reported cases of COVID-19 continues, which has led to an urgent need for more effective ways to combat the coronavirus and restore society to a certain semblance of normalcy. To address this, smart face masks made by equipping respiratory face masks with electronic sensors and modules have been recently proposed. − To date, smart masks are mainly used for two purposes: (1) to monitor respiratory symptoms, such as cough, − , and (2) to enhance the filtration of airborne pathogens including coronaviruses; ,, both contribute to prevention and control of respiratory diseases. In addition to the significance in diminishing the pandemic, there has been a witnessed trend of smart masks and wearables for their potential in health monitoring and preventive care, − personalized behavior modeling, − and healthcare internet-of-things (IoTs). − Nevertheless, existing research largely ignores wearing comfort and breathability, which are crucial for user experience and compliance of wearing face masks.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to the significance in diminishing the pandemic, there has been a witnessed trend of smart masks and wearables for their potential in health monitoring and preventive care, − personalized behavior modeling, − and healthcare internet-of-things (IoTs). − Nevertheless, existing research largely ignores wearing comfort and breathability, which are crucial for user experience and compliance of wearing face masks. The state-of-the-art smart face masks usually employ rigid materials or printed circuit boards (PCBs) attached to the nonporous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), ,− ,, which are generally bulky, cumbersome, and, most importantly, nonbreathable. The lack of breathability markedly impedes the practice of smart face masks due to swelter and discomfort.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The proposed smart face mask consists of a zero-power radio frequency (RF) harmonic transponder, which is attached to the inner side of an ordinary face mask and can be torn off and reattached for repeated usage (Figure b). To achieve better wearing comfort than current smart masks, − ,, the RF harmonic transponder is printed using spray-printed silver nanowires (AgNWs) on the multiscale porous polystyrene- block -poly(ethylene- ran -butylene)- block -polystyrene (SEBS) substrate (Figure c); both nanomaterials are lightweight, flexible, stretchable, and, most importantly, breathable. Moreover, the 0.2–7 μm pores of the SEBS substrate can efficiently block the sunlight, while allowing transmission of the human-body infrared (IR) radiation (which is in some sense similar to a spectral filter), thereby enabling passive heat dissipation and/or passive cooling .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Breathable, Reusable, and Zero-Power Smart Face Mask for Wireless Cough and Mask-Wearing Monitoring

Ling

Yang

et al. 2022

ACS Nano

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We herein introduce a lightweight and zero-power smart face mask, capable of wirelessly monitoring coughs in real time and identifying proper mask wearing in public places during a pandemic. The smart face mask relies on the compact, battery-free radio frequency (RF) harmonic transponder, which is attached to the inner layer of the mask for detecting its separation from the face. Specifically, the RF transponder composed of miniature antennas and passive frequency multiplier is made of spray-printed silver nanowires (AgNWs) coated with a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) passivation layer and the recently discovered multiscale porous polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (SEBS) substrate. Unlike conventional on-chip or on-board wireless sensors, the SEBS-AgNWs/PEDOT:PSS-based RF transponder is lightweight, stretchable, breathable, and comfortable. In addition, this wireless device has excellent resilience and robustness in long-term and repeated usages (i.e., repeated placement and removal of the soft transponder on the mask). We foresee that this wireless smart face mask, providing simultaneous cough and mask-wearing monitoring, may mitigate virus-transmissive events by tracking the potential contagious person and identifying mask-wearing conditions. Moreover, the ability to wirelessly assess cough frequencies may improve diagnosis accuracy for dealing with several diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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Innovative Smart Face Mask to Protect Workers from COVID-19 Infection

Cited by 14 publications

References 7 publications

Smart mask – Wearable IoT solution for improved protection and personal health

Smart mask – Wearable IoT solution for improved protection and personal health

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

A Breathable, Reusable, and Zero-Power Smart Face Mask for Wireless Cough and Mask-Wearing Monitoring

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