The Search for Better Masks Leads to Some Ridiculous Solutions

 

We've all gotten familiar with masks and their limitations over the past year. There is no doubt that they work (at least if they're not fake), but they have problems. Leakage is one that can currently only be addressed with external appliances. Another is comfort. 

Since masks are a big market, lots of people are trying to design a better virus-trap. Predictably, there are high-tech entries. Razer is designing one, but it's not for sale yet. One that is for sale, assuming you have $299 to drop on a mask, is the Xupermask. It is a collaboration between Will.i.am and Honeywell (?).

Both of these things have N95 filtration, active ventilation, speakers, and Bluetooth. The Xupermask has noise cancelling headphones too, for some reason.  They also look like they'd be at home in a Mad Max movie (assuming the post-apocalyptic landscape still has power to charge the masks).

 While these entries are a little over-the top, they are at least designed to filter all the air coming in and out.  I can't say the same about the Exa Mask, which is looking for backers on Kickstarter.

It has some kind of rig that seals against your nostrils and filters the air going in and out. It also redirects the exhaust horizontally away from your face, so you don't fog up your glasses.

What it doesn't seem to do is filter any air going in and out of your mouth!  You can see it in this picture from the Kickstarter page:

That grey thing is described as a shield that "protects against flying particulates when someone speaks." Maybe, but it doesn't seal against your chin and doesn't filter air to/from your mouth so aerosols could leak in and out of the bottom and sides.  

Seriously, WTF? How can someone sell a mask that only filters if you remember to breathe through our nose? I think it's time that the FDA issue some regulations to prevent products like this.

Contest

Think you've got an idea for a better mask?  There's a contest for that. HHS is backing it with $500K in prize money. 

The contest focuses both on improving existing designs and incorporating new technologies and materials that are not yet used in masks. Entries will be judged on filtration efficiency, inhalation airflow resistance, degree of seal around the face, and other criteria.


Header image by cromaconceptovisual from Pixabay 

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