Coronavirus
Technology Solutions
Eliminate COVID
Now with Tight
Fitting,
Efficient Masks
Details on Mask
Options are
Available from
Fix the Mask
Essential Mask
Brace is
Effective and
Inexpensive
High-Filtration
(Hi-Fi) Masks
Identified by
Patient Knowhow
Off-the-shelf
Hi-Fi Masks
Listed by Fit
the Mask
Combining the
Essential Brace
with Acteev
Anti-microbials
_______________________________________________________________________
Eliminate COVID
Now with Tight
Fitting,
Efficient Masks
A tight
fitting
efficient mask
initiative
should be given
the highest
priority because
·
The pandemic
ends immediately
with everyone
wearing tight
fitting
efficient masks
·
These masks are
available
·
The cost is
nominal
Everyone can be
wearing highly
efficient masks
within weeks.
This includes
commercial
designs plus DIY
braces for
medical masks.
These DIY
accessories e.g.
three rubber
bands can be
eliminated over
time as
commercial
options are
amply available.
Here are the
important facts
and
considerations
·
When transmitter
and recipient
wear masks with
a Fitted Filter
Efficiency (FFE)
of 90%, the
combined
efficiency is
99% and only 1%
of the virus
could be
inhaled. Virus
inhalation risk
is 70 times less
than with poor
fitting cloth
masks and 20
times less than
with loose
fitting medical
masks.
·
FFE 90 masks are
the equivalent
of a 99%
lockdown.
·
COVID is
transmitted in
small aerosols.
If the emitter
is wearing a FFE
90 mask the load
falling on
surfaces is
reduced by 90%
making surface
transmission
even more
unlikely.
·
With FFE 90
masks we return
to normal
activity and the
pandemic ends.
Fast Track FFE
90 Program
Objectives
·
Immediately
change every
general mask
mandate to
specify
efficiency. A
nonspecific
mandate is the
equivalent of
saying every
football player
should wear head
covering.
·
Create Safe
Bubbles which
can only be
accessed by FFE
90 wearers.
·
Require Safe
Bubble operators
to insure each
entrant is
properly wearing
his FFE 90 mask.
·
Do not wait for
proactive
government
initiatives. Let
the Safe Bubble
operators
(Schools,
Fitness Centers,
Churches, Malls,
etc.) lead the
way.
·
Encourage
Comfortable
Attractive,
Tight Fitting,
Reusable
(CATER)
masks suppliers
to increase
production
rapidly.
·
Guide those who
cannot afford or
acquire CATER
masks to
properly wear
medical masks
with a brace
which insures a
tight fit.
Fast Track FFE
90 Program
Elements
·
Build on
initiatives such
as the
ASTM
20/50 and EU
equivalent
·
Utilize the free
CATER Mask
Decisions
(CMD)
to
provide a forum
for those with
important
information to
convey
·
Quantitative,
Qualitative, and
Cursory Fit
testing needs to
be expanded.
This can be
evolutional and
should not delay
implementation.
·
The benefits of
creating Safe
Bubbles should
be explained to
every major
building or
transportation
operator.
·
Programs can be
implemented with
the help of
associations
such as ones
representing
fitness centers,
high schools,
churches etc.
·
Governments can
be a guiding
force but we
should not wait
until they can
be fully vested.
The mask should
be viewed as a
medical device
but with the
added burden of
being an
acceptable
article of
clothing. Those
who can afford
CATER masks will
want them. The
DIY brace is
equivalent of
using a shirt as
a tourniquet on
the battlefield.
It is not
ideal but it
will save lives.
The FFE 90 Mask
initiative will
be discussed in
an open forum on
January 21 at
10:AM central
standard time.
Data will
be displayed
which is on the
CDM site.
If you
have a
contribution
which should be
considered, it
can be added in
one of the Daily
Alerts prior to
the forum.
You can register
through the
CATER Mask
Decisions
Website
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/CATER/subscriber/default.htm
For more
information
contact Bob
McIlvaine at
rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com
Devabhaktuni
Srikrishna is
the founder of
Patient Knowhow
https://www.patientknowhow.com/about/#research
is global
health. Using
the Patient
Knowhow platform,
researchers and
doctors from
around the world
are discovering
the best patient
education on
YouTube and
related research
on PubMed.
Patient Knowhow
aims to uncover
the most
reliable and
easy-to-use
information
about disease
prevention,
transmission,
causes, and
treatment.
Devabhaktuni
has collaborated
with Sabrina
Paseman
who has a
website and
initiative
titled Fix the
Mask
https://www.fixthemask.com/
It is devoted to
the subject of
improving
surgical mask
efficiency by
use of a brace.
A $15 Essential
Brace is
available
although the
website also
shows a DIY
design where
only a rubber
sheet and
scissors are
needed.
Extensive
quantitative
testing has
shown that a
surgical mask
with a brace can
equal an N95
mask. An N95
mask can achieve
a 98% fitted
filter
efficiency.
Billions of
surgical masks
are being
produced. If the
wearers also
used the
reusable brace
they
could
average 90% FFE.
So 10% emission
from the
transmitter and
90% removal by
the recipient
means that he
inhales only 1%
of the virus.
This 99% virus
reduction is
more protection
than vaccines
and would allow
quick return to
normal activity.
McIlvaine has a
forecast showing
that a
combination of
mask types can
provide the
necessary
protection. In
the second
quarter there
would be a need
for 9 billion
surgical masks
(Upgraded
Disposable).
Three billion
braces would be
needed.
CATER mask
production
should
accelerate to a
production rate
of over 2
billion per
quarter by the
end of 2022.
The Essential
Mask Brace was
designed using
the 3D printed
heads from the NIOSH
Anthropometric
Data.
It was then
tested on human
subjects,
following the OSHA-standard
ambient aerosol
condensation
nuclei counter
(CNC)
quantitative fit
testing protocol.
A number of
these tests are
displayed on the
website and
demonstrate the
considerable
effort which has
been made to
prove the
brace’s value.
The group is
also currently
also collecting
data with the
Bitrex (Denatonium
Benzoate)
Solution Aerosol
Qualitative Fit
Test Protocol.
So far It has
had 32
individuals
pass.
Find their
latest dataset
comparing
different masks here.
Breathability
The level of
breathability of
N95 respirators
is measured by
inhalation
resistance and
exhalation
resistance. The
group tested a
few different
types of masks
using the NIOSH
test protocol,
and found the
following
results.
The brace is
needed in
surgical masks
because they do
not have a fit
layer. N95s have
an extra layer
to provide the
tight fit.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRdTsH6l6zs 10:03, https://www.nap.edu/read/11637/chapter/4#23
The Fix the Mask
Group has
compared the
performance of
various
commercially
available masks.
The consumable
available masks
can be
researched as
follows:
Herogard:
discontinued
Zubrex: https://www.amazon.com/ZUBREX-Disposable-Safety-Face-Protection/dp/B088BY7YPX
Safe Warrior: https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/safe-warrior-disposable-face-mask/ID=300401401-product
Costco (BYD): https://www.costcobusinessdelivery.com/byd-general-purpose-face-mask%2C-single-use%2C-one-size%2C-50-ct.product.100378349.html
Outdoor
Research: https://www.outdoorresearch.com/us/face-mask-kit-283298
Healthcare-available
Masks
DuPont: https://www.fishersci.com/shop/products/sierra-proced-mask-w-earloop/19088879
Methods Subjects wearing a basic surgical facemask and the rubber band mask brace underwent quantitative fit testing using machinery designed to certify N95 mask fit. Subjects were tested with the brace anchored behind their eyes, with a paperclip behind the head, and on the side knobs of their face shields. The primary outcome measure was whether the subject passed the quantitative fit test at or above the OSHA verified standard for N95 masks. Results Subjects (n=11) were 54.5% female, with a median height of 70 inches (IQR 68-74), weight of 170 lbs (IQR 145-215) and BMI of 24.6 (IQR 22.2-27.2) and encompassing 5 distinct N95 mask fit types. We found that 45%, 100% and 100% of subjects passed the quantitative fit test when the brace was anchored behind the ears, with a paperclip and on a face shield, respectively.
Conclusion Of
the 11 subjects
included in the
analysis, across
a range of body
habitus and N95
mask fit types,
all passed the
quantitative fit
test when the
mask brace was
anchored on
either face
shield or with a
paperclip. This
data suggests
the brace would
offer an
improved margin
of safety when
worn with a
basic surgical
mask.
A June study
suggests that an
entire
population
wearing masks of
just 75%
effectiveness
can bring a very
high ‘R’ number
of 4.0 all the
way down to
under 1.0, even
without aid of
lockdowns.
The researchers
call for
information
campaigns across
wealthy and
developing
nations alike
that appeal to
our altruistic
side: 'my
facemask
protects you,
your facemask
protects me'.
The findings are
published in
the Proceedings
of the Royal
Society A.
“Our analyses
support the
immediate and
universal
adoption of
facemasks by the
public,” said
lead author Dr
Richard Stutt,
part of a team
that usually
models the
spread of crop
diseases at
Cambridge’s
Department of
Plant Sciences.
Dr Renata
Retkute,
coauthor and
Cambridge team
member, said:
“The UK
government can
help by issuing
clear
instructions on
how to make and
safely use
homemade masks.”
Cambridge
researchers
worked to link
the dynamics of
spread between
individuals with
population-level
models,
assessing
varying degrees
of facemask
adoption
combined with
periods of
lockdown.
The modelling
included the
different stages
of infection,
and transmission
via surfaces as
well as air.
Researchers also
considered
negative aspects
of mask use,
such as
increased face
touching.
The study
suggests that an
entire
population
wearing masks of
just 75%
effectiveness
can bring a very
high ‘R’ number
of 4.0 (the UK
was close to
this before
lockdown) all
the way down to
under 1.0, even
without aid of
lockdowns.
In fact, masks
that only
capture a mere
50% of exhaled
droplets would
still provide a
'population-level
benefit', even
if they
quadrupled the
wearer’s own
contamination
risk through
frequent face
touching and
mask adjustment
– a highly
unlikely
scenario.
Patient Knowhow
has been on the
lookout for
better masks
with these
properties.
Below are a
short list of
off-the-shelf
options you can
purchase online
as well as a
number of new
mask designs
that push the
envelope in
these
dimensions.
Which is best?
Patient Knowhow
is not making
any
recommendations
because it seems
the right mask
for each person
is different
based on their
preferences, but
at minimum they
need to promise
N95 level
filtration and
have features to
form a seal
(fit) with the
face. Many good
options are
available
off-the-shelf.
Uses a folding
design based on
origami
principles to
achieve a
tighter fit with
the face. Winner
of
a competition run
by Johnson &
Johnson and
BARDA. Although
not yet NIOSH
approved they
are working
towards
approval.
A brace or
harness to
improve the fit
of commonly used
surgical masks
Although not yet
NIOSH approved
they are working
towards
approval.
An elastomeric
mask in use by
first responders
made by a
Wisconsin
auto-parts
manufacturer
that uses a
symmetric,
flat-filter
design (so no
exhalation
valve).
Although not yet
NIOSH approved
they are working
towards
approval.
Clear face mask
with
high-performance
filter
Although not yet
NIOSH approved
they are working
towards
approval.
Clear face mask
with HEPA
filter.
Tight seal with
high-efficiency
filter
Readers can find
details on many
reusable masks
in CMD.
Companies
such as
Purar,Vogmask
and
others are
identified in
keyword search
of the Alerts.
If you
click on the
intelligence
system and then
on the key word
fit you see very
extensive
documentation on
the fit testing
for Vogmask.
five
sizes are
available to
accommodate all
the face types.
Experts now
estimate that
each month, 129
billion face
masks and 65
billion gloves
are used and
disposed of
globally.
(McIlvaine
questions
whether 8
billion people
are wearing 16
masks per
month.)With a
surgical mask
weighing roughly
3.5g, that would
equate to
451,500 tonnes
of masks a month
and, when placed
next to one
another, cover
an area roughly
three times the
size of
Singapore.
Conservationists
and
non-governmental
organizations
are increasingly
concerned that a
lot of the
plastic waste,
especially
pandemic-related
waste, is ending
up in landfills,
waterways and
oceans, adding
to the millions
of tonnes of
plastic waste
already dumped
into the world's
oceans every
year.
Blended
Huemanity now
offers the Acteev
Protect™
Nonwoven Mask and
the Acteev
Protect™ Fabric
Mask with Filter,
from Ascend
Performance
Materials. These
new masks are
reusable and
general purpose
masks, featuring
powerful
built-in
antimicrobial
technology,
which inhibits
the growth of
odor-causing
bacteria, mold
and fungi. The
masks are soft,
breathable,
comfortable, and
gentle on the
skin.
Blended
Huemanity's
Acteev Protect™
masks are an
ideal choice for
anyone seeking
better
protection,
comfort, and
breathability.
"The
collaboration
between Accel
Lifestyle and
Ascend
Performance
Materials brings
together two
powerhouse
companies, with
expertise in
science, fabric,
manufacturing,
branding and
consumer
products," said
Blended
Huemanity
Co-Founder and
CEO Megan
Eddings, who is
also founder &
CEO of Accel
Lifestyle.
"If the last few
months have
shown us
anything, it's
that the need
for face
coverings isn't
going away,"
Eddings said.
"We all want to
return to normal
life – sporting
events, family
gatherings, hugs
with friends –
but we want to
do so safely and
comfortably."
Acteev Protect™
Masks are made
with Acteev™
technology,
which
incorporates
active zinc ions
in a polymer
matrix, focusing
on destroying
microbes.
"Acteev's active
layer of defense
uses safe,
environmentally
friendly active
zinc ions
embedded into
the matrix of
the polymer –
not a chemical
spray that will
wash away or
flake off –
meaning these
masks can be
used again and
again,"
said Phil
McDivitt, CEO of
Ascend, the
company that
invented Acteev™.
Ascend is
currently
working with the
U.S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency and the
U.S. Food and
Drug
Administration
to obtain
appropriate
regulatory
clearances to
make specific
claims regarding
the Acteev™ technology's
antiviral
properties.
"When returning
to regular
activities,
people want a
mask that is
comfortable,
well-made,
reusable and
easy to breathe
through,"
McDivitt said.
"Our scientists
and engineers
invented a
process for
creating a
revolutionary
new fabric that
checks all the
boxes. Acteev™
fabric is
incredibly soft
to the touch and
moisture-wicking
to keep the face
cool, and it's
more breathable
than other
materials used
in masks."
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