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

该项目是一个概念验证，旨在研究一种新型掩膜对基于社区的污染源控制的有效性。如果能够确定疗效，这种形式的个人防护装备(PPE)将成为一种新的工具，可以增强社会距离，帮助人们以安全的方式重返工作岗位。我们将重新构建源头控制个人防护设备的需求分析框架，验证新出现的方法，并评估各种材料和设计方法。目标是评估一种新型口罩(面部护腿)，并将其与现有口罩进行比较，以适应非医疗目的的源头控制，以满足政府指南和延长工作时间、工作职责和相关社交活动的物理要求。脸部护腿类似于现有的运动面罩，但专门为源头控制而设计。它还耐用，可机洗，可重复使用数百次。其中一个目标是实现源头控制工具的现代化；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普通公众长时间使用。另一个目标是帮助将对源代码控制选项的审查演变为英国和国际评级系统。该项目解决了新冠肺炎大流行带来的长期需求。源头控制已被用来降低细菌和病毒的传播率，例如当病人到医院就诊时。可向有症状的患者和患者的随行人员发放医用口罩，以对无症状和无症状的病例进行源头控制。这类口罩的一个关键缺陷是口罩与面部接触处的密封质量：口罩不适合；不能容纳面部毛发；放置在靠近嘴巴的地方；透气性低。总而言之，排出的空气可能会从口罩的两侧逸出，降低这种类型的源头控制的有效性。所有这些问题都通过面罩的新颖设计得到了解决。当外科口罩供不应求时，可重复使用的替代方案是有利的。由于新冠肺炎疫情的爆发，一个适合延长使用和重复使用的源头控制工具是及时的，它可以通过限制感染的传播来支持政府从大流行病中恢复过来，例如在提供基本服务方面，更广泛地说，在行动限制开始解除时。在原始项目下进行的一个新的源头控制面具的概念验证是成功的。研究小组设计、测试并制造了一种可重复使用的面罩，让佩戴者安全呼吸，同时包含潜在的危险，并将泄漏降至最低。根据延期计划，研究团队将对这种新型口罩为佩戴者提供的保护进行测试。这些测试将评估口罩的性能，以保护佩戴者免受环境中小气雾剂的影响。这项测试将在安装在呼吸人体模型上的全口罩上进行，以捕捉溶液的总体性能。对FFP2口罩、外科口罩、传统的颈部绑腿和新型的“半脸”口罩的测试将提供有用的比较，并有助于加强这种新设计的好处。将进行延长耐用性的测试，以确定经过多次洗涤和滚筒干燥循环后的性能。然后将创建该项目广泛知识库的摘要，以支持标准化非医用面部覆盖物的设计参数。

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.