While many people are willing to wear a mouthpiece to contain the coronavirus, there are many who find it uncomfortable. There are even those who have trouble breathing. Electronics company LG has found something to that: a portable air purification system that doubles as a mouth mask. It includes replaceable HEPA filters and battery-powered fans for easy breathing.
Anyone who would have said a year ago that billions of people worldwide would be wearing mouth caps daily would probably have been fooled. With the coronavirus outbreak, the demand for them has skyrocketed. However, not all mouth masks are of good quality and a shortage of disposable masks can easily occur due to a variety of circumstances.
The South Korean electronics group LG is now introducing a face mask designed to solve these problems, according to De Ingenieur. The mask is fitted with two H13 HEPA filters. These filters are also used in the brand’s home air purifiers and should therefore protect the wearer against, amongst other things, fine particulate matter, pollen, allergens, bacteria and viruses.
LG's mouth mask, also called PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier, is a kind of combination of a gas mask and a mouth mask. The mask attaches over the ears with two elastic bands. The mask - because extensive facial analysis was done in the design process - is said to fit different shaped faces well.
Sensor records breathing
With its dual fans and patented breathing sensor, the PuriCare Wearable allows users to constantly take in clean, filtered air. The breathing sensor detects the wearer's breathing cycle and volume on which the dual fans with three speeds adjust. The fans automatically speed up when inhaling, speeding up the airflow. They slow down again on exhaling, reducing resistance to the outflowing air.
According to its makers, the HEPA filters offer 99.95 per cent MPPS (most penetrating particle size) protection, the particle size that includes viruses. The mask comes with a cover that features UV LED lights that kill harmful germs and charges the mask at the same time. Moreover, the cover can indicate via an app when the filters are due for replacement. Every part of LG PuriCare Wearable - from the filters to the ear straps - is recyclable.
While LG welcomes the innovation - " the PuriCare is an exciting addition to our growing range of products designed to provide meaningful health and hygiene benefits" - it is going to further explore the extent to which it protects against Covid-19.
Source: The Engineer/LG.
