MIT researchers design reusable rubber face mask
One of the characteristics is that it filters 95% of the particles found outside
A team of bioengineers and clinical experts from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an ingenious sterilizable and reusable mask as an alternative to N95.
The iMASC (Injection Molded Autoclavable, Scalable, Conformable), which is the name they receive, are designed with a silicone rubber that can withstand up to 300ºC of heat and therefore are not damaged after sterilizing. In addition, the masks include simultaneously one or two N95 filters, which filters 95 % of the particles found outside.
According to the description offered by MIT News, the masks are based on the shape of the N95 3M 1860 masks that are already commonly used at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
To design the mask’s shape, its creators used three-dimensional modeling adjusted to different users, based on 3D faces captured through the camera of an iPhone 11 and ARKit.
The product has been subjected to different tests in order to guarantee its resistance: from being immersed in legion and isopropanol to being passed through a steam sterilizer. Other companies are expected to support large-scale production of iMASC to achieve approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
K.Villarroel
Source: xataka
