Intelligent mask for monitoring breathing condensate based on radiation cooling

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of medical protection, in particular to a breathing condensate monitoring intelligent mask based on radiation cooling, a mask body is provided with a condensation assembly and a biosensor, and the biosensor is used for detecting breathing condensate supplied by the condensation assembly; the condensation assembly comprises a shell, and a porous structure, a drainage channel, a radiation cooling fiber membrane, a frame and a heat dissipation assembly which are mounted on the mask body through the shell; the porous structure and the heat dissipation assembly are installed on the two faces of the frame respectively, and the radiation cooling fiber membrane is located in the frame and attached to the porous structure. A plurality of through holes for assisting cooling and diversion are distributed in the porous structure; the drainage channel is located at the bottom of the porous structure and used for collecting breathing condensate, and the biosensor is installed at a liquid outlet of the drainage channel. The breathing health condition of a wearer can be monitored in real time, data about the carbon dioxide content, the PH value, the temperature and the like in breathing gas are provided, and a new solution is provided for personal health management.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical protective technology, and in particular to a smart mask based on radiation cooling for monitoring respiratory condensate, especially a functional mask based on radiation cooling for real-time embedded detection of respiratory condensate. Background Technology

[0002] The dangers of respiratory diseases are receiving increasing attention, and biomarker detection methods based on exhaled breath condensate (EBC) are rapidly gaining clinical application due to their advantages such as simplicity, safety, non-invasiveness, high repeatability, and good patient compliance. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a respiratory tract lining fluid obtained non-invasively, composed of condensed airway epithelial fluid and volatile substances. Since the biochemical molecules in EBC are exhaled through the airway, primarily reflecting the biochemical state of the airway, EBC can be considered a biomarker identifiable on par with blood and urine, serving as an important biological medium for assessing human health and environmental exposure levels. Currently, methods for detecting components in exhaled breath mainly rely on gas chromatography separation techniques and mass spectrometry detection techniques, requiring large-scale equipment such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

[0003] Masks or face shields can effectively block sources of infection and are an effective way to prevent respiratory infectious diseases. Wearing masks also blocks airborne particulate matter, reducing the inhalation of harmful particles or gases and preventing contamination of exhaled breath condensate by the external environment. Therefore, designing a smart mask equipped with an exhaled breath condensate collection and real-time detection device, using ordinary masks as a carrier, to achieve continuous online assessment of human health and disease prevention is of significant practical importance. However, there is currently no mature smart mask solution for detecting exhaled breath condensate, especially regarding the efficient, pollution-free, and targeted collection of condensate, which remains a technological bottleneck limiting its development. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by proposing a smart mask based on radiation cooling and respiratory condensate monitoring.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: The present invention provides a smart mask for monitoring respiratory condensate based on radiation cooling, comprising a mask body, a condensation component and a biosensor on the mask body, the biosensor being used to detect respiratory condensate supplied by the condensation component; The condensation assembly includes a housing, and a porous structure, drainage channels, a radiation cooling fiber membrane, a frame, and a heat dissipation component mounted on the mask body through the housing; The porous structure and heat dissipation components are installed on both sides of the frame, with the heat dissipation components located on the side facing the mask body. The radiative cooling fiber membrane is located inside the frame and attached to the porous structure. The frame is a mechanical support and integrated frame that does not directly participate in heat exchange or flow, ensuring the relative position and connection between the components.

[0006] The radiation-cooled fiber membrane is the core active cooling component of the entire condensation process. It lowers its own temperature below the dew point by radiating heat in the mid-infrared wavelength into space without the need for external energy. When the wearer's exhaled hot and humid air comes into contact with this low-temperature membrane, water vapor condenses into water droplets on its surface, which acts as a cold source.

[0007] The porous structure has several through-holes distributed on it for auxiliary cooling and flow guidance. This porous structure acts as a passive cooling and flow guiding component, located downstream or to the side of the radiative cooling membrane. The porous structure of the cryogel further reduces the local temperature through water evaporation (evaporative cooling), forming a "series cooling" effect with radiative cooling and improving overall condensation efficiency. Its porous structure is hydrophilic, enabling it to "absorb" condensate from the surface of the radiative cooling fiber membrane through capillary action (capillary force) and guide the water flow to a designated collection area (i.e., to the drainage channel). This prevents excessive water droplet accumulation on the surface of the radiative cooling fiber membrane from affecting subsequent condensation and also achieves directional water transport.

[0008] The drainage channel, located at the bottom of the porous structure, serves as the collection and discharge channel for the respiration condensate. The biosensor is installed at the outlet of the drainage channel. Relying on gravity, the condensate flowing from the porous structure naturally collects and is guided to the final storage device or biosensor. This design ensures that the condensate is drained promptly, preventing its accumulation within the system.

[0009] The outer shell is installed on the mask body, and the porous structure, drainage channels, radiation cooling fiber membrane, frame, and heat dissipation components are located inside the outer shell. The biosensor consists of a data partitioning module, a data acquisition module, a data analysis module, and an early warning module; Data partitioning module: Divides the biomarker molecule concentrations collected by the biosensor into 1, 2...N sub-data regions according to the collection time. Data acquisition module: used to collect concentration data and electrical signal data of various gas markers and transmit them to the data analysis module; Data Analysis Module: Analyzes the obtained data, calculates the body's health index, establishes a comprehensive health data model, and transmits it to the early warning module; Early warning module: Establish a comprehensive health index early warning value, and compare the obtained comprehensive health index with the comprehensive health index early warning value. If it is greater than the early warning value, issue an early warning signal.

[0010] As a further preferred option, the condensation component is located at the center of the mask body, and a breathing valve is provided at the connection point between the mask body and the condensation component.

[0011] As a further preferred option, the breathing valve integrates a microfluidic module. Exhaled gas is collected and transported to 5 via 6 for efficient collection of gas condensate. This module achieves the collection and transport of condensate by simulating the capillary phenomenon of plants and utilizing a microcolumn array and hydrophilic microfluidic channels.

[0012] As a further preferred option, the condenser assembly is sequentially fitted with a shell, an outer frame, and an inner frame that interlock with each other to form an integral structure for protection.

[0013] As a further preferred embodiment, the surface of the radiation-cooled fiber membrane is coated with a lubricating coating, which is a ceramic-aluminum polymer mixture based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyethylene glycol block copolymer (PDMS-b-PEG).

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: Real-time health monitoring: Smart masks can monitor the wearer's respiratory health status in real time, providing information such as carbon dioxide content, pH value, and temperature in the breath.

[0015] Non-invasive and convenient monitoring: Compared with traditional methods that require sample collection and testing with professional instruments, smart masks offer a convenient and low-cost way to monitor health that can be reused.

[0016] Self-cooling system: The smart mask has a self-cooling system that can effectively cool the breath vapor on the mask and convert the exhaled gas into liquid for analysis, improving the convenience of monitoring.

[0017] Low-cost manufacturing: The relatively low cost of manufacturing smart masks makes large-scale application possible.

[0018] Wireless transmission of results: Analysis results are wirelessly transmitted to the user's smart device, such as a mobile phone, tablet or computer, so that the user can view their health data at any time.

[0019] These advantages and technological benefits demonstrate the innovation and practicality of smart masks in health monitoring, providing a new solution for personal health management. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the present invention; Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the condenser assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments.

[0022] The present invention discloses a smart mask for monitoring respiratory condensate based on radiation cooling, comprising a mask body, wherein the mask body is provided with a condensation component 5 and a biosensor 4, the biosensor 4 being used to detect respiratory condensate supplied by the condensation component 5; through condensation, data acquisition, data storage, biosensor analysis and processing and transmission, real-time continuous analysis of human respiratory markers is realized to achieve health monitoring and disease prevention.

[0023] The condensation component 5 is located at the center of the mask body. A breathing valve is provided at the connection point between the mask body and the condensation component 5. The breathing valve is connected to the condensation component 5 through a pipe or guide channel, guiding the exhaled air into the condensation area. This facilitates ventilation while filtering impurities in the air to prevent contamination by the exhaled condensate. The condensation component 5 utilizes the principle of radiative cooling to achieve localized cooling and efficient, directional condensation of the exhaled air, further guiding the condensate to the biosensor 4.

[0024] The condenser assembly 5 is sequentially fitted with a housing 1, an outer frame 2, and an inner frame 3 that are interlocked with each other.

[0025] Biosensor 4 is connected to the transmitting mechanism (FPCB) via wires, and transmits the detected signal to the microprocessor board for processing, which is used to detect biomarkers in respiratory condensate.

[0026] The data processing and transmission mechanism includes a power supply, filtering, signal amplification, analog-to-digital conversion, Bluetooth, and power management module, all integrated on an FPCB. It is used to collect data from the biosensor 4 and transmit it to the mobile device via the Bluetooth module.

[0027] Specifically, the data processing unit is integrated into the biosensor described above. The warning module and transmitting mechanism include a buzzer, a power management module, and a Bluetooth module (the power management module and Bluetooth module are modules built using existing technology, integrating the development program and hardware onto a micro PCB board, mainly containing some of the main functions of Arduino). The signal transmitted by the data processing is received by the warning module and transcoded before being transmitted to the mobile cloud APP via the Bluetooth module.

[0028] Biosensor 4 is prepared by laser-induced graphene processing, which involves processing filter paper with a laser according to a designed electrode pattern and then modifying it with silver ions.

[0029] A microfluidic module 6 is integrated into the breathing valve for efficient collection and analysis of exhaled breath condensate (EBC). This module mimics the capillary action of plants, utilizing a micropillar array and hydrophilic microfluidic channels to achieve automatic sampling, transfer, and updating of EBC. The inner surface of the microfluidic module is made of a hydrophilic material with a contact angle as low as 15.5°, driving the EBC flow within the microchannels through capillary forces, ensuring stable operation even in non-upright positions. Furthermore, the module incorporates a cooling system employing a series cooling strategy, combining hydrogel evaporative cooling and radiative cooling technologies to ensure efficient condensation of exhaled gas under various environmental conditions. Exhaled gas condenses into EBC on the surface of the radiatively cooled fiber membrane and enters the microfluidic channels through the micropillar array. The EBC flows within the microfluidic channels and reaches the sensing chamber for real-time monitoring. The EBC is transferred through the microchannels to the cooling gel on the outer surface, where it is absorbed to replenish the moisture required for evaporative cooling. The synergistic effect of hydrogel evaporation and radiative cooling maintains a low surface temperature, achieving efficient condensation. This design not only achieves gas and liquid flow control functions similar to a breathing valve, but also avoids the complexity and cost issues of traditional breathing valves, providing an innovative solution for real-time monitoring of respiratory health.

[0030] The bio-inspired microfluidic module 6 significantly improves the efficiency of condensate collection and transport by utilizing surface hydrophilicity-driven capillary action and a micro-engineered gradient column array. A collection pool is located at the bottom of the frame to collect the condensed liquid water. A drain channel 502 is located at the bottom of the condensate collection area. The drain channel is designed to take gravity into account, allowing condensate to flow naturally to the drain outlet and preventing condensate buildup.

[0031] The condensation component 5 includes a housing, and a porous structure 501, a drainage channel 502, a radiation cooling fiber membrane 503, a frame 504, and a heat dissipation component 505, which are installed on the mask body through the housing. The heat dissipation component 505 is fixed to the inside of the mask to ensure that it can effectively dissipate heat; the porous structure 501 and the heat dissipation component 505 are respectively installed on both sides of the frame 504, the heat dissipation component 505 is located on the side facing the mask body, and the radiation cooling fiber membrane 503 is located inside the frame 504 and attached to the porous structure 501. The porous structure 501 has several through holes distributed on it for auxiliary cooling and airflow guidance; Drainage channel 502 is located at the bottom of porous structure 501 and is used to collect respiratory condensate. Biosensor 4 is installed at the outlet of drainage channel 502. The outer shell is installed on the mask body, and the porous structure 501, drainage channel 502, radiation cooling fiber membrane 503, frame 504, and heat dissipation component 505 are located inside the outer shell; Insert the frame 504 into the designated position of the heat dissipation assembly 505, ensuring tight contact. One side of the frame 504 passes through the housing 1 and outer frame 2 and snaps into the inner frame 3, ensuring its fixed position inside the mask. Cover the surface of the frame 504 with a radiant cooling fiber membrane 503, ensuring a tight fit for efficient radiant cooling. Install a porous structure 501 inside or on the surface of the frame 504 to ensure efficient absorption of moisture and guidance of condensate flow. Install a drain channel 502 at the bottom of the condensate collection area to ensure smooth drainage of condensate and prevent accumulation. When the wearer exhales, the exhaled air enters the condensation area of ​​the breathing valve and first comes into contact with the radiant cooling fiber membrane 503. The radiant cooling fiber membrane 503 lowers its surface temperature through radiant cooling, causing water vapor in the exhaled air to condense into liquid water on the surface of the fiber membrane. The condensed liquid water flows through the porous structure 501 to the condensate collection area. The condensate is discharged from the breathing valve through the drain channel 502, preventing condensate accumulation. The condensate is guided through a flow channel to the biosensor for the detection of biomarkers.

[0032] The radiation-cooled fiber membrane 503 adopts a double-layer structure, with one layer for reflecting sunlight and the other layer for radiation cooling. This patent does not reflect the function of sunlight reflection, but only the local radiation condensation function.

[0033] The high emissivity of the radiation-cooled fiber membrane emits thermal radiation into space in the mid-infrared region (8-13 μm), further reducing the surface temperature and achieving efficient condensation. The microfluidic module design ensures efficient collection and transport of condensate, reducing the residence time of condensate within the breather valve.

[0034] The condensed liquid water flows through the porous structure 501 to the condensate collection area at the bottom of the breather valve. The collection tank is typically designed with a drainage channel to discharge the condensate from the breather valve and prevent condensate buildup. The drainage channel is located at the bottom of the condensate collection area, ensuring that the condensate can drain smoothly from the breather valve. The drainage channel is designed to take gravity into account, allowing the condensate to flow naturally to the drain outlet.

[0035] When the wearer exhales, the exhaled air enters the condensation area of ​​the breathing valve and comes into contact with the radiant cooling fiber membrane. The cooling gel absorbs water vapor and converts it into liquid water, thus collecting the condensate. The condensed liquid water flows through the radiant cooling fiber membrane and the porous structure 501 to the condensate collection area.

[0036] The drainage channel in the condensate collection area directs condensate out through the breather valve, preventing condensate buildup. The drainage channel is designed to take gravity into account, allowing condensate to flow naturally to the drain outlet. A lubricating surface coating is applied to one side of the frame, significantly reducing water droplet adhesion to the contact surface and effectively collecting condensate through gravity.

[0037] Radiative cooling utilizes the material's natural emission of mid-infrared radiation into space (especially in the 8-13 μm range) to cool the surface below the dew point without any external energy, thus causing water vapor to condense from the atmosphere. A highly efficient condensation effect is achieved through the combination of radiative cooling and hydrogel evaporative cooling.

[0038] Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) contains exhaled gas biomarkers. One type consists of inorganic molecules derived from bacteria, such as NH3, H2S, NO, CO, and H2 / CH4; for example, H2 / CH4 can be used to detect intestinal flora imbalance. The other type consists of organic molecules (VOCs), present in small amounts and derived from metabolites of body tissues and organs; these can be used to detect symptoms of respiratory infections, such as cancer. The collected exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is contacted with a superabsorbent polymer (SAP), which is mainly composed of agarose hydrogel, silver nanoparticles, and a polymer matrix. The SAP absorbs some of the water in the EBC but not the gaseous biomarkers, thus increasing the sample concentration of the gaseous biomarkers. Downstream of the SAP is a selectively permeable membrane. This membrane has a specific pore size and is configured to filter dissolved salts and other impurities from the EBC, preventing impurities from entering the biosensor and thus increasing the biomarker molecule concentration. The resulting EBC sample flows through a guide channel and is introduced onto the surface of the resulting biosensor 4.

[0039] Through the above structural design, the breathing valve using a radiation-cooled fiber membrane can efficiently collect and manage condensate in exhaled air while maintaining good sealing and comfort. A lubricating surface coating is applied to one side of the inner surface of the 504 frame. This coating significantly reduces water droplet adhesion to the contact surface, allowing for efficient collection of condensate via gravity. The radiative cooling material is a ceramic-aluminum polymer blend based on PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) and PDMS-b-PEG (polyethylene glycol block copolymer). This material possesses high thermal conductivity and ideal radiative cooling properties, effectively reflecting sunlight and emitting mid-infrared radiation. By utilizing the material's natural emission of mid-infrared radiation into space (especially in the 8-13 μm range), the surface is cooled below the dew point without any external energy source, causing water vapor in exhaled breath to condense. This combination of radiative cooling and hydrogel evaporative cooling achieves highly efficient condensation.

[0040] The condenser assembly 5 is sequentially fitted with a housing 1, an outer frame 2, and an inner frame 3 that are interlocked with each other.

[0041] A radiation-cooled fiber membrane 503 covers the condensation area of ​​the breathing valve and comes into direct contact with the exhaled air. When the exhaled air enters the breathing valve, it first comes into contact with the radiation-cooled fiber membrane, and the air condenses into liquid water on the surface of the fiber membrane. The surface of the radiation-cooled fiber membrane 503 is coated with a lubricating coating, which is a ceramic-aluminum polymer mixture based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyethylene glycol block copolymer (PDMS-b-PEG).

[0042] The biosensor 4 consists of a data partitioning module, a data acquisition module, a data analysis module, and an early warning module; Data partitioning module: Divides the biomarker molecule concentrations collected by the biosensor into 1, 2...N sub-data regions according to the collection time. Data acquisition module: used to collect concentration data and electrical signal data of various gas markers and transmit them to the data analysis module; Data Analysis Module: Analyzes the obtained data, calculates the body's health index, establishes a comprehensive health data model, and transmits it to the early warning module; Early warning module: Establish a comprehensive health index early warning value, and compare the obtained comprehensive health index with the comprehensive health index early warning value. If it is greater than the early warning value, issue an early warning signal.

[0043] The comprehensive health index can be obtained from the processed EBC biomarker molecular concentration data using existing technical formulas.

[0044] The working process of this invention: 1. Condensation (occurring on the radiation-cooled fiber membrane 503): The wearer exhales → the hot and humid gas comes into contact with the low-temperature surface of the radiation-cooled fiber membrane 503 → water vapor condenses into small water droplets and adheres to the membrane.

[0045] 2. Stripping and primary flow guidance (from radiation-cooled fiber membrane 503 to porous structure 501): Method 1 (Lubricating Coating): The surface of the radiation cooling fiber membrane 503 is coated with a lubricating coating. Water droplets have low adhesion and can easily roll off the surface under gravity and drip into the porous structure 501 below.

[0046] Method 2 (capillary action): The porous structure 501 is in close contact with the radiation-cooled fiber membrane 503. Through strong capillary force, water droplets on the surface of the radiation-cooled fiber membrane 503 are directly "absorbed" into its own porous structure.

[0047] 3. Secondary diversion and collection (within the porous structure 501 and to the drainage channel 502): The condensate entering the porous structure 501 continues to be transported forward (downward) through capillary action in its hydrophilic porous structure and is eventually guided to the inlet of the drainage channel 502.

[0048] 4. Final discharge (through drainage channel 502): The condensate collected in drainage channel 502 flows along the channel to the connected storage unit under gravity or drips directly onto the biosensor for detection. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A smart mask for monitoring respiratory condensate based on radiation cooling, comprising a mask body, characterized in that: The mask body is provided with a condensation component (5) and a biosensor (4), and the biosensor (4) is used to detect the respiratory condensate supplied by the condensation component (5); The condensation assembly (5) includes a housing, and a porous structure (501), a drainage channel (502), a radiation cooling fiber membrane (503), a frame (504), and a heat dissipation assembly (505) mounted on the mask body through the housing. The porous structure (501) and the heat dissipation component (505) are respectively installed on both sides of the frame (504). The heat dissipation component (505) is located on the side facing the mask body, and the radiation cooling fiber membrane (503) is located inside the frame (504) and attached to the porous structure (501). The porous structure (501) has several through holes distributed on it for auxiliary cooling and flow guidance; The drainage channel (502) is located at the bottom of the porous structure (501) and is used to collect respiratory condensate. The biosensor (4) is installed at the outlet of the drainage channel (502). The outer shell is installed on the mask body, and the porous structure (501), drainage channel (502), radiation cooling fiber membrane (503), frame (504), and heat dissipation component (505) are located inside the outer shell; The biosensor (4) consists of a data partitioning module, a data acquisition module, a data analysis module, and an early warning module; Data partitioning module: Divides the biomarker molecule concentrations collected by the biosensor into 1, 2...N sub-data regions according to the collection time. Data acquisition module: used to collect concentration data and electrical signal data of various gas markers and transmit them to the data analysis module; Data Analysis Module: Analyzes the obtained data, calculates the body's health index, establishes a comprehensive health data model, and transmits it to the early warning module; Early warning module: Establish a comprehensive health index early warning value, and compare the obtained comprehensive health index with the comprehensive health index early warning value. If it is greater than the early warning value, issue an early warning signal.

2. A smart mask for monitoring respiratory condensate based on radiation cooling according to claim 1, comprising a mask body, characterized in that: The condensation component (5) is located at the center of the mask body, and a breathing valve is provided at the connection between the mask body and the condensation component (5).

3. A smart mask for monitoring respiratory condensate based on radiation cooling according to claim 2, comprising a mask body, characterized in that: The breathing valve integrates a microfluidic module (6).

4. A smart mask for monitoring respiratory condensate based on radiation cooling according to claim 1, comprising a mask body, characterized in that: The condensation assembly (5) is sequentially fitted with a shell (1), an outer frame (2), and an inner frame (3) that are interlocked with each other.

5. A smart mask for monitoring respiratory condensate based on radiation cooling according to claim 1, comprising a mask body, characterized in that: The surface of the radiation-cooled fiber membrane (503) is coated with a lubricating coating, which is a ceramic aluminum-polymer mixture based on polydimethylsiloxane PDMS and polyethylene glycol block copolymer PDMS-b-PEG.

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