Technology has a solution for present problems and right now no other problem is bigger than covid-19 and its variants. Even though we have vaccines, the effect of the virus is not going to slow down anytime. Face masks are the only solution right now and MIT engineers are upgrading this simple life savior making it adaptable to the virus.
Researchers of two reputable organizations, MIT and Harvard University, have developed a high-tech face mask that could detect the coronavirus.
Read further to know everything about this mask.
Researchers Shrunk Down Covid-19 Test Laboratory Into Face Masks
via:MITnews
The face mask developed by Harvard and MIT looks very ordinary except for the blue button embedded in it. The mask is fitted with tiny sensors inside called synthetic biology sensors. These are capable to detect toxins, viruses, and bacterial nucleic acids.
According to researchers of the institute, these wearable biosensors can accurately detect viruses in a wearer’s breath and give results equivalent to standard covid tests.
Also Read: How AI World Is Coping With The Challenges Posed By Face Masks?
Technology Used In Face Mask
via:phys
Wearable freeze-dried cell-free technology is used to develop the new generation face masks. The technology is different than previously used where living cells were incorporated into the system for detection.
However, those biosensors were not efficient, due to the fact there were chances of living cells affecting wearers in case of damage.
The latest technology on new face masks has been used previously for virus-like Ebola and Zika. Researchers have been working on wFDCF technology for a long to come up with better solutions to deal with unknown viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
The whole idea of this technology relies on the rehydration of synthetic gene networks. These networks or cell-dried components get activated by water molecules, which in turn react with targeted molecules in the wearer’s breath.
Within an hour, the sensors on the mask will emit signals indicating positive and negative results.
Also Read: 7 Common Face Mask Mistakes Everyone Should Avoid
How Do These Face Masks Work?
via:businessstandard
Detecting covid-19 via face masks seems impossible but the technology made it a reality. Users have to turn on the button embedded in the mask. If the wearer has a covid-19 infection, the sensors will produce a change in color on the readout strip.
The strip is embedded inside the mask. It takes around an hour to detect the virus and provide results. Apart from covid-19, the mask is capable of detecting other toxins and pathogens in the environment.
Only a prototype of such a high-tech face mask is ready. More will be ready as soon as the researchers get the patent approval for the product and get the right manufacturer.