Weapons against COVID-19
Weapons against COVID-19
1. Introduction
Most respirators with APF≥10 on the current market are designed for high-polluting environments. In the industry standards, the concentration of particulate matter for testing is more than 1000 times that in the conventional environment, and the airflow for testing is 10 times the normal respiratory volume. This will inevitably increase the cost and breathing resistance of respirators and bring inconvenience to wear, which make some high-protection products only suitable for professionals. Without high-protection equipment, the indoor air transmission of SARS-CoV-2 cannot be effectively blocked.
We have developed seven series of creative protective equipment, including new-generation respirators (new-generation masks and new-generation PAPR) and real-time virus detectors. When these new products become popular around the world, the COVID-19 epidemic can be rapidly put to an end. These novel products can also be used to deal with any kind of virus in the future.
Seven series of novel products are listed as follows:
1. Mask braces: They can increase the HPI of surgical masks by about 100 times;
2. Single-layer single-frame masks (SLSF masks): The cost is similar to that of surgical masks, the respiratory resistance is lower than that of surgical masks, and the HPI is ~10,000.
3. Single-layer double-frame masks (SLDF masks): The cost of the filter is lower than that of surgical mask, low breathing resistance, high protection, HPI is ~10000.
4. Face-shield PAPR: The purchase price is 90% lower than conventional PAPR, high protection, PPI is 30~1000.
5. Economy PAPR: The cost of filter material is 90% lower than conventional PAPR, high protection, PPI is 300~1000.
6. Filtering PAPR: It can filter the wearer's exhaled gas to prevent the wearer from infecting the surrounding people, usually HPI is 10000~100,000.
7. Real-time virus detectors: They can be used to detect the concentration of viruses or particulates in the exhaled gas or the ambient air in real time.
2. SF Mask Braces
There are two types of mask braces: porous mask brace and exoskeleton mask brace. Using the mask braces outside a mask can reduce the leakage around the mask (the leakage of surgical mask is usually 30-60%, the leakage of N95/KN95 mask is usually 1%-20%), and increase personal protection index (PPI) by 3~30 times. The mask braces can be used repeatedly after disinfection.
Design Principle: According to the double-mask enhancement effect, mask braces are designed to reduce leakage around the mask and greatly improve the protective performance of the mask. The mask brace should match with the face contour.
2.1 Porous Mask Brace
The porous mask brace is just an abandoned product designed in the research and development process. The announcement of this abandoned product is to allow people to replicate it by modifying N95/KN95 masks, so as to avoid more infections and save many lives.
The porous mask brace is also convenient for mass production by KN95 mask manufacturers. However, after repeated use, the mask brace will gradually fail due to deformation or insufficient elasticity of the ear straps. Therefore, this mask brace is suitable for temporary emergency use.
2.2 Exoskeleton Mask Brace
The exoskeleton mask brace is made of flexible materials that match face contour. Covering this mask with a surgical mask, the PPI may increase by 10 to 30 times, while the PPI usually only increases by ~2 times for some mask fitters on the market. The exoskeleton can be used repeatedly after disinfection, and the ear straps can be replaced.
Exoskeleton mask brace + surgical mask:
• It can replace the N95 mask, and the breathing resistance is about half of N95/KN95.
• The China surgical mask standard does not require high filtration performance. The filtration efficiency of most surgical masks is around 90%, and some are even lower than 80%. Our customized surgical masks contain higher quality meltblown non-woven fabric, with a filtration efficiency of about 98.5%. Surgical masks with ASTM level 1 or above and our customized surgical masks are recommended.
Exoskeleton mask brace+ KN95 mask:
• The leakage is ~1%, and the PPI is ~100.
• Such KN95 masks need to be customized.
3. Single-Layer Single-Frame Mask (SLSF mask)
SUMFOUND™ SLSF mask is the world's first single-layer mask. It combines a single-layer filter and a frame to make a mask that is more comfortable than surgical mask and N95 mask.
• Normal type and enhanced type.
• HPI of the normal type is more than 100 times that of surgical masks.
• It can replace the N95 mask.
• Respiration resistance is 50%~80% lower than N95/KN95 masks.
• The cost of the normal type is similar to that of surgical masks.
• Plastic pollution is reduced by >60% compared with surgical masks.
• The outer non-woven fabric of the conventional three-layer mask would absorb the virus when the wearer breathed in, and the virus would fall off when the wearer breathed out. The single-layer mask has electrostatic adsorption function, which greatly reduces the risk of virus shedding.
SLSF masks are suitable for all people, including babies and children. If the whole population uses normal SLSF masks, the HPI may exceed 500, which can rapidly curb the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. The HPI of the enhanced type can reach 10,000.
4. Single-Layer Double-Frame Mask (SLDF mask)
SUMFOUND™ SLDF mask is the world's first reusable respirator with a single-layer filter. It consists of two flexible frames and a high-performance single-layer filter. It can be used repeatedly after disinfection and replacing the filter.
• The filter is easy to replicate manually. In case of emergency, it can be replicated in large quantities manually even without equipment.
• The HPI is more than 100 times that of an ordinary KN95 mask.
• Respiration resistance is 50%~80% lower than that of N95/KN95 masks.
• Use cost is >80% lower than that of N95/KN95 masks.
• Plastic pollution is reduced by >70% comparing with surgical mask
• The risk of virus shedding is significantly reduced
Due to the low breathing resistance, single-layer masks (single-frame and double-frame) can also be worn while sleeping, making them very suitable for use in families, dormitories, and military camps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
5. Face-Shield PAPR
SUMFOUND™ Face-Shield PAPR has a minimalist design in contrast to the conventional PAPR which is bulky, costly, and inconvenient for use.
Design Principle: After being filtered and pressurized by an air purifier, the external air flows into the face shield, so that the air pressure in the face shield is higher than the ambient air pressure. The positive pressure in the face shield can prevent the ambient polluted air from entering the face shield.
The positive pressure PAPR can protect the wearer's mouth, nose, eyes, and entire face from being harmed by ambient airborne contaminants or splashes. Face-shield PAPR is mainly composed of three units: air purifier, power bank and face shield. Each unit can be used independently. If the face-shield PAPR is used with the new-generation mask, the total personal protection index can exceed 10,000.
Four types of face-shield PAPR have been invented: simple, normal, enhanced and professional, with different costs and protection factors.
• Simple type: The lowest cost type is designed for emergency use, and conducive to mass production after the epidemic outbreak.
• Normal type: Cost-effective, suitable for use in normal circumstances.
• Enhanced type: Air flow is ~70% larger than the normal type, suitable for all people, especially occupational groups with a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (retail workers, transport workers, taxi drivers, etc.).
• Professional type: Highest protection performance among the four types, suitable for all people, especially health care workers.
Comparison of face-shield PAPR and conventional PAPR:
• The no-hose PAPR is as easy to use as a simple face shield.
• The purchase cost is reduced by >90%.
• The use cost is reduced by >90%.
• The weight is reduced by ~85%.
6. Economy PAPR
SUMFOUND™Economy PAPR is designed based on the concept of economical, practicality and compatibility, and is quite different from the conventional PAPR with expensive and bulky characteristics.
Three types of Economy PAPR are developed: simple, normal and professional, with different costs and protection factors.
• Simple type: Light weight, easy to carry, suitable for all people, especially for people with rhinitis, asthma and others, who are sensitive to air pollution.
• Normal type: Compatible with a variety of 3M filters, suitable for preventing inhaling particulates and viruses.
• Professional type: High quality, large air flow, suitable for people in high-pollution industries and medical staff.
Comparison of Economy PAPR and conventional PAPR:
• The protection factor is equivalent.
• The purchase cost is reduced by >80%.
• The use cost is reduced by > 90%.
• The weight is reduced by >70%.
7. Filtering PAPR
SUMFOUND™Filtering PAPR can purify the wearer's exhaled air, while conventional PAPR does not has such function. This novel PAPR is suitable for all people, especially for COVID-19 patients and international travelers. There are several types with different cost and protection factors.
Comparison of filtering PAPR and conventional PAPR:
• The exhalation protection factors range from 10 to 1000.
• The cost of disposable full-face masks is similar to that of N95 masks.
• The filter cost is reduced by >90%.
• The purchase cost is reduced by >80%.
• The weight is reduced by >70%.
8. Real-Time Virus Detectors
The exhaled-gas particulate detector has just been successfully developed, which can examine the particulate concentration when the subject exhales. The next step is to establish the corresponding relationship between the particulate concentration and the virus concentration in exhaled gas, so as to realize the rapid and real-time detection of the virus concentration in exhaled gas.
This exhaled-gas particulate detector has multiple functions: it is used to detect the leakage rate of PAPR and masks, and can also be used to detect the relative resistance and filtration efficiency of masks; with masks, it can be used as PAPR.
The equipment has low cost and can be used in hospitals as well as households.