Novel face mask design for source control of viruses as a low-tech tool to enhance social distancing

用于病毒源头控制的新型口罩设计，作为增强社交距离的低技术工具

• 批准号: 57852
• 金额: $ 9.55万
• 依托单位: TENSARC LIMITED
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Feasibility Studies
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=57852
• 关键词: Novel; face; mask; design; source

This project is a proof of concept to study the efficacy of a new type of mask for community-based source control. If efficacy can be established, this form of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) will be a new tool for enhancing social distancing and helping to get people back to work in a safe way. We will reframe the requirements analysis for source control PPE, validate emerging approaches, and assess various materials and design approaches.The goal is to assess a new type of mask (face gaiter) and compare it to existing masks for suitability as source control for non-medical purposes, to meet government guidelines and the physical requirements of extended work hours, job duties, and related social interaction. The face gaiter resembles existing sport face coverings but is engineered specifically for source control. It is also durable, machine washable and can be reused hundreds of times.One objective is to modernise the tools for source control; currently there is a reliance on masks designed for medical or hazardous materials environments, which may or may not be suitable for use by the general public over extended periods of time. Another objective is to help evolve reviews of source control options towards UK and international rating systems.The project addresses a long-standing need surfaced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Source control has been used to reduce the transmission rate of bacteria and viruses, such as when sick patients present to hospital. Surgical masks may be issued for source control to a symptomatic patient and to those accompanying the patient to account for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases. A key deficiency in such masks is the quality of the seal where the mask meets the face: the masks are poor-fitting; do not accommodate facial hair; lay in close proximity to the mouth; and have low breathability. Taken together, expelled air can escape around the sides of the mask and reduce the effectiveness of this type of source control. All of these issues are addressed by the novel design of the face gaiter.When surgical masks are in short supply then a reusable alternative is advantageous. A source control tool suitable for extended use and re-use is timely due to the COVID-19 outbreak and it can support the Government's recovery from the pandemic by limiting the transmission of infection, e.g. in the delivery of essential services and more generally once restrictions on movement start to lift.The proof of concept for a novel source control mask conducted under the original project was successful. The research team designed, tested, and manufactured a re-usable face covering that lets a wearer safely breathe whilst containing potential hazards and minimising leakage. Under the extension, the research team will carry out tests focused on the protection provided to the wearer by this novel type of face mask. These tests will evaluate the performance of the mask to protect the wearer from small aerosols within the environment. The test will be carried out on full masks fitted on a breathing mannequin to capture the total performance of the solution. Testing of FFP2 masks, surgical masks, traditional neck gaiters and new “half-face” cloth masks will provide useful comparisons and help reinforce the benefits of this novel design. Tests for extended durability will be conducted to determine performance after many wash-and-tumble-dry cycles. A summary of the project’s extensive knowledgebase will then be created to support efforts to standardise the design parameters for non-medical face coverings.

该项目是一个概念验证，以研究一种新型口罩的有效性，以社区为基础的源控制。如果有效性得到证实，这种形式的个人防护设备（PPE）将成为加强社交距离和帮助人们以安全的方式重返工作岗位的新工具。我们将重新构建源控制PPE的需求分析，验证新兴方法，评估各种材料和设计方法，目标是评估一种新型口罩（面罩），并将其与现有口罩进行比较，以确定其是否适合用于非医疗用途的源控制，以满足政府指导方针以及延长工作时间、工作职责和相关社交的物理要求。面罩类似于现有的运动面罩，但专为源代码控制而设计。其耐用、可机洗，可重复使用数百次。其目标之一是实现污染源控制工具的现代化;目前，人们依赖于为医疗或危险材料环境设计的口罩，这些口罩可能适合也可能不适合公众长时间使用。另一个目标是帮助英国和国际评级系统发展对源控制选项的审查。该项目解决了COVID-19大流行引起的长期需求。源头控制已被用于降低细菌和病毒的传播率，例如当生病的病人去医院时。可能会向有症状的患者和陪同患者的人员发放外科口罩，以进行源头控制，以应对无症状和症状前病例。这种面罩的一个关键缺陷是面罩与面部接触处的密封质量：面罩贴合性差;不能容纳面部毛发;靠近嘴部放置;并且透气性低。总的来说，排出的空气会从面罩的侧面周围逸出，降低这种类型的源控制的有效性。所有这些问题都通过新颖的面罩设计得到解决。当外科口罩供应短缺时，可重复使用的替代品是有利的。由于COVID-19爆发，适合长期使用和重复使用的源控制工具是及时的，它可以通过限制感染的传播来支持政府从大流行中恢复过来，例如在提供基本服务时，以及更普遍地在行动限制开始取消时。在最初项目下进行的新型源控制口罩的概念验证是成功的。研究团队设计、测试并制造了一种可重复使用的面罩，可以让佩戴者安全呼吸，同时控制潜在的危险并最大限度地减少泄漏。根据延期，研究小组将进行测试，重点是这种新型口罩为佩戴者提供的保护。这些测试将评估口罩的性能，以保护佩戴者免受环境中的小气溶胶的影响。测试将在佩戴在呼吸人体模型上的全面罩上进行，以获取解决方案的总体性能。对FFP 2口罩、外科口罩、传统护颈镜和新型“半脸”布口罩的测试将提供有用的比较，并有助于加强这种新颖设计的好处。将进行延长耐久性测试，以确定多次洗涤和翻滚干燥循环后的性能。然后，将创建该项目的广泛知识库的摘要，以支持为非医疗面部覆盖物的设计参数的简化所做的努力。