Mask With Radiation-Generating Layer For Pathogen Inactivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional masks filter out particulate matters, droplet viruses, and bacteria but fail to inactivate them, posing a risk of re-infection and pollen allergy, as the filtered pathogens can still be active and spread to others or re-enter the wearer's respiratory tract.
Innovation Solution
A mask with a radiation-generating layer that emits weak radiation, ionizing water molecules to produce hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide, effectively inactivating viruses and bacteria, while also stabilizing the immune system and reducing bad odor components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional mask uses nonwoven fabric or woven fabric for the body portion, then the mask filters particulate matters, droplet viruses, and bacteria, but the filtered viruses and bacteria remain active and can spread to the surroundings or re-enter the respiratory tract
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a radiation-generating layer that emits radiation to ionize water molecules and generate hydroxyl radicals, converting the potentially harmful filtered viruses and bacteria into inactive forms. This transforms the filtration function into an inactivation function, preventing the spread of active pathogens while maintaining the filtering capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask body portion uses a composite structure combining nonwoven fabric or woven fabric with a radiation-generating layer. This composite material approach integrates both filtration and inactivation functions into a single mask structure, where the fabric layer filters pathogens and the radiation-generating layer inactivates them.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the mask body portion filters viruses and bacteria, then particulate matters are removed, but the filtered pathogens remain biologically active and pose infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation-generating layer converts the harmful active pathogens into beneficial inactive forms through radiation-induced ionization and hydroxyl radical generation, eliminating the infection risk while preserving the filtration benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
Water molecules and hydroxyl radicals act as intermediaries between the radiation and the pathogens. The radiation first ionizes water molecules to produce hydroxyl radicals, which then inactivate the pathogens, providing a controlled mechanism for pathogen deactivation.
3Device complexity
If the mask uses only filtration without inactivation, then the structure remains simple, but the risk of pathogen spread and re-infection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation-generating layer provides multiple functions simultaneously: it inactivates pathogens, generates hydroxyl radicals for continuous disinfection, and maintains the structural integrity of the mask. This multi-functionality adds pathogen inactivation capability without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
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
The mask achieves significant inactivation of pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Influenza virus, and other bacteria and viruses, while improving immune resistance to pollen allergy and reducing unpleasant odors, thereby enhancing protection against infections and allergies.
Implementation Method 1
water molecules present in the surrounding air become ionized or excited by the weak radiation generated around the body portion
Implementation Method 2
water molecules present in the surrounding air become ionized or excited by the weak radiation generated around the body portion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a mask having a particularly remarkable effect against prevention of infections and pollen allergy. More specifically, the mask includes: a body portion 2 being air-permeable and covering at least one portion of a face of a wearer; and a fixing portion 3 fixing the body portion 2 against the face of the wearer, and further the body portion 2 has a radiation generating layer that generates radiation to its surroundings, the radiation generating hydroxyl radicals upon reacting to water molecules contained in the air. The hydroxyl radicals generated by the radiation emitted from the radiation generating layer, and hydrogen peroxide further generated from the hydroxyl radicals, inactivates the viruses, bacteria or the like in the surroundings.