Sandia National Laboratories has filed for patent protection and is seeking potential manufacturing partners for a new mask designed to be reused, potentially reducing the amount of personal protective equipment needed in places like hospitals. The prototype respirators are meant for extended, repeated use.
The mask design — which filters inhaled and exhaled air with a nonproprietary material "stored inside two disc-shaped cases," according to a release from Sandia labs — is still in testing. Early test results indicate the mask may be able to meet safety standards set by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, which certifies masks as N95. The N95 respirator is the most common type of particulate-filtering mask, filtering at least 95% of airborne particles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
As part of the project, Sandia is pursuing different types of partnerships, including those to help complete testing and assess production methods.
If the research shows the mask meets requirements, Sandia plans to license the design to manufacturers, according to the release. The licensing of the new mask design may provide an opportunity for local manufacturers looking for opportunities to produce PPE. A number of manufacturers, including Albuquerque-based Advanced Business Design, pivoted to making PPE during the Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused demand to increase.
A total of 17 researchers worked on the design, including mechanical engineers, microbiologists, virologists, materials scientists and fabrication experts. The mask can be disassembled for cleaning between uses and is intended to be compatible with autoclaving, which uses steam and heat to kill microbes, according to Sandia. It also includes a resonator, which transmits the wearer's voice.
“We’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t in terms of structure, materials and production methods,” said said Todd Barrick, an engineer on the project, in a statement. “We’ve also learned that Sandia can quickly assemble a team with all the skills needed to develop and test medical-grade respirators.”
