Reusable, transparent, and reconfigurable N95-equivalent Respirator Masks: design, fabrication, and trials for enhanced adoption

摘要 2019冠状病毒病大流行使人们有必要广泛使用面部防护设备（FPE）， 人口，以打击病毒传播。不幸的是，目前FPE的局限性已经被 暴露，由于其技术没有显着改善，尽管医疗环境面罩， 被使用了100多年。这对医护人员来说尤其是个问题， 面罩或加湿器，通常几个小时。这些问题包括眼镜起雾， 不合适的佩戴、佩戴者的不适以及个人之间的交流受阻。此外，本发明还提供了一种方法， 通常可用的FPE中制造的材料通常对环境有害， 当以目前的数量使用时，会产生大量危险的填埋废物。 拟议的研究旨在通过开发新的FPE设计来弥补这一点。其中第一个将是一个 对SEEUS 95公司设计的无带式面罩的改进。(New约克，纽约）被称为 SEEUS 95呼吸面罩。目前的半面罩设计将由志愿者进行测试和试用， 修改以创建修改子尺寸版本。SEEUS 95口罩采用环保新技术， 使用天然材料的过滤器设计和滤芯（即，空气吹PLA）没有聚丙烯，第一个 在空气过滤中的应用与此同时，第二个FPE设计将是一个改进的版本， X光面罩，由陈实验室设计。该设计将通过添加硅胶填充物来改进， 改善贴合性和舒适性，并采用SEEUS 95的环保呼吸器设计 面罩和实现轮廓气道的新颖过滤器设计（受人的形态学的启发 肠及其提取营养物质的能力）。人类受试者的试验将测试设计的有效性， 将提取用户的意见，关于他们是否喜欢新的或已经可用的FPE，允许他们 来详细阐述我们的设计重点所需的关键功能。 这项研究的结果将导致更好的沟通，舒适， 环境结果，而不牺牲佩戴者或他/她遇到的人的安全。的明确 FPE不仅有利于听力损失或沟通困难的人， 工人和第一响应者，但也将增加采用和遵守这种FPE的可能性， 马达加斯加国家顶级域名改进的设计提供了一种有效的方式来对抗COVID-19的影响， 如果将来出现类似情况，这将有助于防止病毒传播。的 结果将为旨在进一步检查和改善疗效的第二阶段研究奠定基础 这些创新的FPE，并与先进的传感技术集成， 人类健康状况，如发烧、卧病和寒战。最终，我们的研究和原型将 在公众中获得更多的采用，并提供更好的保护，社会联系， 和沟通的能力。总而言之，这些创新的FPE也可以 例如，通过保护人们免受野火烟雾的危害来应对气候变化和空气污染。

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the wide use of facial protective equipment (FPE), by the general population, to combat viral spread. As an unfortunate consequence, the limitations of current FPE have been exposed, due to its technology having not improved significantly, despite medical environmental facemasks being used for over 100 years. This is particularly a problem with healthcare workers, who must wear facemasks or respirators for long periods, often several hours. These problems include fogging of eyewear, improper fitting, discomfort to the wearer, and hindered communication between individuals. In addition, the materials made in commonly available FPE can often be harmful to the environment, and their disposal can generate a large amount of hazardous landfill waste when used in present day quantities. The proposed research seeks to remedy this by developing new FPE designs. The first of these will be an improvement to the strapless facemask designed by SEEUS95, Inc. (New York, NY) known as the SEEUS95 respirator mask. The current half-mask design will be tested and trialed by volunteers, as well as modified to create a modification child-size version. The SEEUS95 masks features an eco-friendly new filter design and cartridge using natural materials (i.e., air-blown PLA) with no polypropylene, the first of its kind in air filtration. In tandem, the second FPE design to be studied will be an improved version of the X-mask, designed by the Chen laboratory. The design will be improved by adding a silicone padding to improve fitting and comfort, as well as incorporating the eco-friendly respirator design of the SEEUS95 masks and a novel filter design implementing contour airways (inspired by the morphology of the human gut and its ability to extract nutrients). Human subjects’ trials will test the designs for efficacy, and surveys will extract users’ opinions regarding whether they prefer the new or already available FPE, allowing them to elaborate on their desired key features for our design focus. The outcomes of this study will lead to improved FPE designs for better communication, comfort, and environmental outcomes, without sacrificing the safety of the wearer or those he/she encounters. The clear FPE will not only benefit those with hearing loss or difficulties in communications, as well as healthcare workers and first responders, but will also increase the likelihood of adopting and adhering to such FPE by the general public. The improved designs offer an effective manner to combat the effects of COVID-19, and could be instrumental in preventing the spread of virus should similar situations arise in the future. The outcomes will set the stage for Phase II research that aims to further examine and improve on the efficacy of these innovative FPE, and integrate with advanced sensing techniques for continuously monitoring human health conditions such as fever, couching, and chills. Ultimately our research and prototypes will garner increased adoption among the general public and provide better protection, social connection, and communication for our health care professionals. Altogether, these innovative FPE can also fight against climate change and air pollution, for example, by protecting people from wildfire smoke hazards.