Mask with Protruding Salt Crystal Pockets for Airborne Virus Deactivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional masks are inefficient in deactivating or killing airborne pathogens, such as viruses, due to insufficient thickness and ineffective filtering, leading to potential infection from residual pathogens during inhalation and exhalation.
Innovation Solution
A mask design featuring pathogen-deactivating assemblies with protruding pockets containing salt crystals or other pathogen-killing particulate matter, which are compressed to form larger surface areas for effective pathogen deactivation, allowing air to pass through and kill pathogens during breathing, with inner pockets being more effective than outer pockets over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional masks use standard filtering materials, then the mask structure remains simple, but the mask is inefficient in deactivating airborne pathogens due to insufficient thickness and effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining pathogen-deactivating particulate matter (such as salt crystals, silver ions, or other antimicrobial agents) with filtering materials to create a multi-functional mask layer. This composite structure simultaneously provides filtration and pathogen deactivation, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and effective pathogen killing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the mask materials by incorporating particulate matter with specific properties (size, concentration, composition) to enhance pathogen deactivation effectiveness. By adjusting these parameters, the mask achieves superior pathogen killing capability while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
2Reliability
If the mask uses sufficient thickness and effective filtering materials to kill pathogens, then pathogen deactivation effectiveness improves, but the mask becomes more complex and potentially less comfortable to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating pathogen-deactivating particulate matter in specific regions of the mask where pathogen exposure is highest, rather than uniformly distributing it throughout the entire mask. This allows effective pathogen deactivation at critical locations while maintaining comfort in other areas, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and wearability.
3Ease of operation
If the mask allows air to pass through for breathing, then ease of operation improves, but pathogen deactivation effectiveness decreases due to insufficient contact time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes porous materials with optimized pore sizes and distributions that allow air to pass through for breathing while providing sufficient surface area and contact time for pathogen deactivation. The porous structure enables both respiratory comfort and effective pathogen killing by maximizing the interaction between air and pathogen-deactivating particulate matter.
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 effectively deactivates and makes airborne viruses unviable, reducing the risk of infection by utilizing pathogen-killing particulate matter in both inhalation and exhalation, even when the wearer is in environments with infected individuals.
Implementation Method 1
pathogen-deactivating assembly, which contains a pathogen-deactivating matter
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing an improved mask or device for killing or deactivating pathogens, such as viruses. A mask or device produced in accordance with the method for producing. A method for killing, or making inviable, viruses, such as airborne viruses.