UV-C Forced Air Face Shield for Pathogen Deactivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional masks, such as N95 and surgical masks, face challenges in effectively filtering out airborne pathogens like COVID-19 due to discomfort, limited breathability, and inefficiency in preventing the inhalation of viruses smaller than their filter size, leading to reduced public adherence and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A UV-C irradiated forced air shielding mechanism that uses a cap with a Plexiglas or polycarbonate face shield and a miniature UV-C irradiator reactor to provide a continuous flow of filtered and disinfected air, ensuring positive air pressure and 100% pathogen deactivation, thus enhancing protection without the need for traditional masks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional masks (N95, surgical masks) are used to filter airborne pathogens, then some level of protection is provided, but comfort and breathability deteriorate leading to reduced public adherence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful pathogens from the air stream before it reaches the wearer by using UV-C irradiation to deactivate viruses and bacteria in the forced air flow. This separates the protection function from the physical mask barrier, allowing air to flow freely while still providing pathogen deactivation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical filtration system (physical mask barriers) with a UV-C irradiation system that uses electromagnetic radiation to deactivate pathogens. This substitution eliminates the need for dense physical filters that restrict breathing while maintaining protection effectiveness.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional masks with small filter sizes are used, then some protection is provided, but they are inefficient in preventing inhalation of viruses smaller than the filter size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the protection mechanism from physical size-based filtration to UV-C wavelength-based pathogen deactivation. By using UV-C radiation at specific wavelengths (200-280nm), the system can inactivate pathogens regardless of their physical size, including viruses smaller than conventional filter pores.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical size-based filtration with UV-C irradiation that targets the biological structure of pathogens. This substitution allows for complete pathogen deactivation without being limited by particle size, as UV-C radiation can penetrate and damage viral DNA/RNA regardless of virus dimensions.
3Reliability
If traditional masks are used, then some filtration is provided, but discomfort leads to reduced public adherence and overall effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pathogen deactivation function from the physical mask structure itself and implements it in the forced air flow system. This allows the mask to be replaced with a face shield that permits normal breathing while UV-C irradiation deactivates pathogens in the air stream, significantly improving comfort and adherence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces forced air flow as an intermediary between the external environment and the wearer's respiratory system. This intermediary carrier is treated with UV-C irradiation to deactivate pathogens, then delivered to the wearer without requiring direct contact with physical filtration materials that cause discomfort.
4Reliability
If a UV-C irradiated forced air shielding mechanism is implemented, then pathogen deactivation and protection are improved, but device complexity increases compared to traditional masks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: the forced air flow generator provides both respiratory support and pathogen removal, while UV-C irradiation simultaneously disinfects the air and deactivates pathogens. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective equipment components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses forced air flow as an intermediary that carries both oxygen to the wearer and trapped pathogens away from the wearer. By treating this single air stream with UV-C irradiation, the system achieves multiple protective functions through one integrated mechanism rather than multiple separate components.
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 UV-C irradiated forced air shielding mechanism provides more effective protection against COVID-19 and other airborne pathogens than conventional masks, improving comfort and reducing the risk of infection while maintaining high filtration efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a UV-C irradiator reactor (e.g., a mercury discharge tube) that supplies a flow of UV-C irradiated air at a positive pressure
Implementation Method 2
UV-C irradiated forced air shielding mechanism that uses a cap with a Plexiglas or polycarbonate face shield and a miniature UV-C irradiator reactor to provide a continuous flow of filtered and disinfected air, ensuring positive air pressure and 100% pathogen deactivation
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a forced irradiated air shielding mechanism that is an effective protective measure against Covid-19. The UV-C irradiated forced air flow face shield described herein is compact enough to be camouflaged under a cap. In this work it is mathematically proven that the described UV-C irradiated forced air flow face shield by itself provides more effective protection against the Covid-19 or similar airborne pathogens. The shield can be enabled using a mercury discharge tube or light emitting diode (LED) irradiator. Computational fluid dynamics is presented to show that positive irradiated air pressure ensures that the only air breathed by the wearer is irradiated. Also presented is a face shield testing apparatus.