Face Mask with Exterior Thermometer for Temperature Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal protective equipment (PPE) lacks integrated sensors for real-time body core temperature monitoring, which is crucial for early detection of contagious diseases like COVID-19, especially in public spaces.
Innovation Solution
A face mask with an integrated air permeable membrane and a thermometer affixed to its exterior surface, allowing for temperature measurement and display, enabling others to visually assess the wearer's temperature and potentially alert others of elevated temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional personal protective equipment is used, then basic protection is provided, but real-time temperature monitoring capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a thermometer with a face mask by affixing the thermometer to the exterior surface of the mask. This merging of two separate functions (protection and temperature monitoring) into a single integrated device allows reliable temperature monitoring without requiring a separate monitoring device, thus improving reliability while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The face mask serves multiple functions: it provides physical protection against contagion and simultaneously functions as a temperature monitoring device. The thermometer integrated into the mask enables the same device to perform both protective and diagnostic functions, eliminating the need for separate equipment and reducing overall system complexity.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If integrated sensors are added to PPE, then temperature monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable face mask with an integrated thermometer, where both components are designed to be inexpensive and single-use. This approach allows the incorporation of sensing capability without the need for complex, expensive, or reusable sensor systems, thereby improving detection capability while keeping the overall device simple and disposable.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermometer provides visual temperature indication through color changes that are visible on the exterior surface of the mask. This optical indication method eliminates the need for complex electronic displays, batteries, or data transmission systems, achieving effective temperature detection while maintaining device simplicity.
3Loss of information
If temperature information is made visible, then early detection capability is improved, but information privacy concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The thermometer uses color changes to indicate temperature levels, providing intuitive visual information about the wearer's temperature status. This allows early detection of fever or elevated temperature without requiring complex data processing or transmission, making temperature information accessible while minimizing privacy risks through simple visual indication rather than detailed personal data collection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides an inexpensive, disposable system for real-time body core temperature monitoring, facilitating early detection of contagious individuals and promoting public health safety by making temperature information easily visible and shareable.
Implementation Method 1
The thermometer may be adapted to measure a temperature of the wearer
Data Source
AI summary
A face mask and a method for fabricating a face mask. The face mask may comprise an air permeable membrane having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and a thermometer affixed to the exterior surface of the air permeable membrane. The air permeable membrane may be adapted to overlay a wearer's mouth and nose. The thermometer may be adapted to measure a temperature of the wearer and to allow other people in close proximity to the wearer see the temperature of the wearer at a glance.