University of Minnesota Twin Cities designs respirator mask prototypes from filter technology

April 15  

Via the University of Minnesota

“The masks — one modified anesthesia mask and one single-use, disposable mask — are being developed to be close to a N95-equivalent with three distinctive components in mind: ventilation, fit and resilience to supply chain fluctuations. The idea was partly inspired by a process posted on YouTube from the Boston Children’s Hospital.”

“To accomplish this, researchers had to verify the material would be able to block viruses from being transferred. At the Center for Filtration Research Consortium, David Pui, a mechanical engineering professor in the College of Science and Engineering (CSE), and his team were able to test how well the masks would be able to reject virus-containing droplets. His testing results showed that the efficiency of the Cummins material was nearly equivalent to that of filtration material typically found in N95 masks — potentially making the U of M prototypes a viable alternative for health care professionals.”

Linsey Griffin, a professor in the College of Design, addressed another key factor in making the masks efficient — sizing and fit. She specializes in understanding the relationship between people’s bodies and highly-functional products, such as personal protective equipment.”

Learn more about how different colleges within the U of M are collaborating to help alleviate the PPE shortage

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