Until the year 2019 they were, almost, an exoticism that was seen exclusively covering the face of some mature Japanese tourist. Or something associated with admission to an operating room or to the room of an immunosuppressed patient. But since the first evidence showed, already started in 2020, that the use correct of face masks It was a useful element to reduce Covid infections, its use was massified. Even despite the fact that the World Health Organization took several months to officially recommend its use, contrary to numerous indications presented by prestigious scientists. Specifically, everything indicates that, either because a viral outbreak of Covid makes its use popular again or because some other airborne virus appears, in the coming years simple and homemade masks will give way to a new generation of designs ranging from high technology to new materials.
A good example of what seems to be in store for us in this matter is the fact that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARD) -an official agency of the USA, organized a International competition which will award Half a million dollars to the best idea in terms of innovation in face masks.
According to the BARDA pharmacologist who organized the competition in an interview published in the scientific journal Science, “Mask Innovation Challenge: Building Tomorrow’s Mask”, “the contest aims to promote innovation in developing face masks that offer better fit, function and appearance than current designs. And we hope to shake up the skin development ecosystem which is a bit stagnant.”
The contest, which is now entering its final phase, has so far selected a dozen finalists from among the 1,448 ideas and proposals that came to them from individual entrepreneurs, groups of university researchers and even mega-corporations such as Amazon or the Levy Strauss textile company. Synonym of jeans
IDEAS
Some of the innovations are highly original, ranging from a combination of new fabrics with nanomaterials based on harnessing physical phenomena such as static electricity to create a simple but effective mask, to much more sophisticated ones that include USB chargers and anatomical studies to offer forms that “stick” to the face of each user. Even even masks for the little ones, which have a pacifier inside! for the boys to use them for longer.
The “Flo Mask”, for example, it was designed from 3D scanning of real faces that allowed them to put together a mask that improves the fit to the face with a silicone band that “ensures comfort of use for hours”, a filter capable of stopping 99.8% of viruses. They already have a model on the market for children and now they are going for the adult segment.
Another company, 4C Air, co-founded by Nobel laureate physicist Steven Chu, proposed the BreSafeinclude a new efficient material when it comes to filtering particles but which, in addition, is semi-transparent and allows the participants of a face-to-face talk to be protected but -at the same time- they can perceive the movements of their interlocutor’s lips.
In the case of Airgamiapart from being efficient, it is a very “attractive”. The idea was born in 2011 and was thought of by an entrepreneur who traveled to China with his family and wanted to prevent his son from breathing polluted air on a daily basis, something common in many Chinese cities. Enthusiastic about origami, he created a design that fits well but also generates a large contained interior space, which facilitates breathing. The mask integrates three layers of polypropylene that are “charged” with electrostatic electricity and capture the particles. The mask is reusable, washable, and comes in four sizes and many colorful prints. Of course, it is not cheap, since each one costs almost US$ 30. Even so, they cannot keep up with the demand.
The AtmoBlue it uses high technology: it uses a pair of HEPA filters, but it also has a chip, battery and two mini-fans that increase the air flow so that you can even do aerobic sports without “running out of air”. Although it seems a bit exaggerated, it will come with a smartphone app that connects via Bluetooth to provide information and ease of use.
The Amazon Perfect Fit It is made of soft fabrics and comes in 6 different sizes to offer the best fit for each face. And, of course, it comes in a wide range of colors and drawings, which tries to position it more as a fashion garment than as a protective medical device, whose function it fulfills.
The PaciMask It was obviously devised by conscious parents who could not get their young children to wear the mask continuously. That is why they manufacture a mask that has a Velcro-type strap that is used to fix any pacifier with a ring and that the little one is calm and, of course, protected.
Although several of the finalist ideas were already underway or being designed even before the current Coronavirus pandemic, often driven by the increasing environmental pollution that is increasing in many cities, no one doubts that the pandemic worked as an excellent publicity campaign. disclosure of the subject and that it is very possible that some of these gadgets become a visible everyday accessory on our faces.
Twitter: @egarabet
quantities
- The pandemic generates about 7,200 tons of medical waste every day.
- Only UNICEFsince the beginning of the pandemic, provided 385 million surgical masks and 23.3 million of the N95 type.
- Another paper estimated that, during pandemic peaks, more than 12 billion face masks were used per month worldwide. Most disposable, made of plastic microfibers.
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