Personal Air Management Methods and Systems for Reducing or Blocking Exposure to Airborne Pathogens

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wearable devices direct air towards the face, failing to effectively prevent inhalation of infectious pathogens, particularly viruses and bacteria, due to their design and filtration inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A wearable personal air management system that redirects filtered air away from the face using a face mask with non-porous transparent surfaces and non-transparent filtration areas, incorporating adjustable straps and air delivery ports to create an air shield, reducing inhalation of pathogens by more than 33%.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional wearable devices direct air towards the face, then air delivery is achieved, but pathogen exposure prevention is ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen exposureVSAvoidair delivery effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by directing filtered air away from the face rather than towards it. The air delivery ports are positioned to create an outward airflow that forms a protective air shield, preventing pathogens from reaching the face while still providing breathable air to the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces filtered air as an intermediary substance that acts as a protective barrier between the user and airborne pathogens. This intermediary airflow mediates the interaction between the external environment and the user's face, blocking harmful particles while allowing breathable air circulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If filters are used to remove pathogens, then pathogen removal efficiency increases, but device weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen removal efficiencyVSAvoiddevice weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies filtration only in specific localized areas where air intake occurs, rather than filtering the entire air volume. The filters are positioned at strategic locations on the device where air enters, providing effective pathogen removal while minimizing the total filter material required and thus reducing overall device weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If high efficiency filters are used, then pathogen removal increases, but airflow resistance increases requiring a pump

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen removalVSAvoidairflow resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses high efficiency filters only at specific air intake locations rather than across the entire device surface. This localized filtration approach maintains high pathogen removal efficiency while minimizing total filtration resistance, allowing natural breathing airflow without requiring additional pumping power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the device provides clean air for inhalation, then user protection increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser protectionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the device so that the same air delivery mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides clean breathable air to the user while simultaneously creating an outward airflow barrier that protects against pathogens. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective mechanisms, simplifying the overall device design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 system effectively reduces exposure to and inhalation of pathogens by creating an air shield that filters out particles smaller than 10 microns with a filtration efficiency of at least 95%, weighing less than 5 lbs and operating at a noise level below 65 decibels.

Implementation Method 1

filters out particles smaller than 10 microns with a filtration efficiency of at least 95%

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250325052A1Personal Air Management Methods and Systems for Reducing or Blocking Exposure to Airborne Pathogens

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 SHARMA VIRENDER K

AI summary

The present specification, in some embodiments, describes a personal wear device that direct the flow of air away from a person's face, reducing or blocking the flow of infectious pathogens towards a patient's naso-oral area thus reducing the risk of inhalation of infectious or noxious pathogens. In another embodiment, the present specification describes a personal air management mask system for use by a patient for reducing or preventing exposure to and inhalation of infected aerosol during a medical procedure.