Excerpts
N95 masks can be made from a variety of textiles, including cotton blends and popular fabrics such as silk, flannel, and chiffon. Other studies have shown that covering the outside of masks with nylon stocking material or forming a bracing with rubber bands can improve the fit. Another researcher is working with materials that can be placed into masks to destroy virus particles by deploying low-level electric charges. Some infectious disease experts believe that face shields, which also prevent particles from entering the body through the eyes, maybe sufficient protection for the mouth and nose.
Factors
1. Scalability
Any design must make use of commonly accessible materials that commercial manufacturers can obtain in big quantities. Multiple designs using a variety of materials may be required so that we are not reliant on a single set of materials that could become rare. One of the reasons masks are so tempting is that they can be scaled up and down more simply than testing and contact tracing.
2. Comfort
Masks must be comfortable enough to be worn for extended periods of time without the need to touch or remove them regularly. There may be ways to do so while still ensuring security. For example, Stanford University researchers are testing wearable devices that pump air into masks to improve breathability.
3. Reusability
To prevent having to buy new masks on a regular basis, they would have to be easy to clean or merely replace specific sections (such as filters) so that they could be used frequently. (Some hospitals have begun to adopt elastomeric masks similar to those used in industrial plants and construction sites to meet this condition.)
4. Style
To prevent having to buy new masks on a regular basis, they would have to be easy to clean or merely replace specific sections (such as filters) so that they could be used frequently. (Some hospitals have begun to adopt elastomeric masks similar to those used in industrial plants and construction sites to meet this condition.)
Feats & Facts
Creating and producing such masks, as well as convincing large groups of people to wear them, is difficult, and it raises engineering, manufacturing, and marketing difficulties that may require tradeoffs in the end. Efforts have already been made to address these issues. Last year, Johnson & Johnson's J Labs held a contest to create better masks, and the winner and other competitors presented designs that are comparable to what we require now. Using materials obtained in local hardware stores, a San Antonio nurse executive produced N95-caliber masks. A Stanford team also developed a comparable version that uses off-the-shelf snorkelling masks.
Expert Thoughts
Academic institutions, businesses, and ordinary citizens can begin developing and testing designs, as well as mass-producing successful ones. So, if you want customers who buy surgical masks to buy your manufactured masks, there is a way to go.
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