Sitting at his desk in Sea Girt, NJ, John Schwind is eager to demonstrate his ReadiMask 365. He holds up what looks like a white sheet of memo paper, peels off a protective liner, and sticks the mask first to his nose. He glides his fingers down his face, over his cheeks, and to his chin, sealing the mask and then demonstrating how easy it is to talk with it in place.
The mask\u2019s medical adhesive sticks directly to the face, without causing breakouts, he said. It doesn\u2019t let air leak and won\u2019t fog his glasses. It\u2019s strapless, so it won\u2019t hurt his ears or make them stick out.
This fall, Schwind, the CEO of Global Safety First, is hoping to take home $150,000 as one of the two top winners of the federal Mask Innovation Challenge. He has made it to the top 10 but realizes he still has a ton of competition.
The ReadiMask365 includes a nano fiber filter and is flexible. After the challenge launched in late 2021, nearly 1,500 submissions were received, says Kumiko Lippold, PhD, a health scientist and manager of the Mask Innovation Challenge. The challenge is run by Lippold and others at the Division of Research, Innovation, and Ventures (DRIVe), which is part of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Like the rest of us, Lippold knows that masks desperately need a makeover. The point of the challenge is to inspire and design masks that are comfortable, even with long wear, and that provide excellent protection. The aim is not only to get us through this pandemic, but also future pandemics and other public health emergencies. \u201cWe are focused on building masks for the next pandemic, the next wildfires,\u201d she says.
The project is a partnership among BARDA\u2019s DRIVe, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
While NIOSH is a partner in the challenge, giving feedback to mask developers, \u201cthe mask challenge is entirely separate from the NIOSH approval process,\u201d Lippold says. Companies can then pursue NIOSH approval on their own, later, if they wish. The agency certifies only masks and respirators.
Preview of Masks to Come
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen some really amazing things,\u201d Lippold said of the new designs. She didn\u2019t want to play favorites, so she gave an overview of innovations. Some designs have transparent materials, or partially see-through materials, so facial expressions can be read. \u201cWe\u2019ve also seen really unique bio-based materials that are derived from natural products. We\u2019ve seen sensors in some.\u201d
One mask model has origami folds, which increase overall surface and breathing area. Some 3D-printed masks promise a custom fit and take into account whether a person\u2019s nose bridge is low or high.
And the Finalists Are\u2026
ReadiMask 365: \u201cI can wear this all day long,\u201d Schwind said of his new design. It has a nano fiber filter and is flexible. Besides the one in the BARDA challenge, the company has other ReadiMasks on the market. \u201cThe most important thing is comfort,\u201d he says. \u201cSecond is protection. If they don\u2019t feel they have a good seal, users don\u2019t have confidence in the mask.\u201d
He offers various sizes of ReadiMasks, from small sizes designed for women with smaller faces to extra-large, \u201cfor NFL linemen.\u201d
ClearMask: \u201cWe are the original clear mask,\u201d says Aaron Hsu, CEO and co-founder of ClearMask in Baltimore. The company began in 2017, and the clear design was inspired by a company co-founder who is deaf. She was scheduled to have surgery, and her sign language interpreter did not show up, leaving her to try to communicate in the operating room with masked health care providers. There were no transparent masks available then, Hsu says.
The makers of ClearMask believe masks are here to stay for some.
\u201cBeing able to work with BARDA and getting their wisdom is invaluable,\u201d he says. Hsu thinks masks are here to stay, at least for some. \u201cI think a certain percentage of the population will continue to wear them, regardless.\u201d He predicts health care settings will become stricter about wearing masks.
\u201cEven now, when you even walk in to a hospital, you might be required to wear a mask,\u201d he says, even as a visitor. His company\u2019s masks are easy to adjust and are secured around the head, so your ears don\u2019t get sore, he says.
4C Air: The BreSafe transparent mask is semi-transparent and is made of a nanomaterial that provides high levels of filtration and breathability with some transparency.
Air99: Based on origami principles, the Airgami mask is meant to improve fit, breathability and aesthetics over existing masks. \u201cAirgami fits better, works better and looks better,\u201d says Min Xiao, a company spokesperson. \u201cIt won\u2019t fall off the nose or collapse onto the mouth, and eyeglasses fog less, she says. Voices are less muffled.\u201d It\u2019s also reusable, rinseable and can be heat disinfected, she say s. It went on the market in November, 2020.
Air Flo Labs: Flo Mask Pro, like the company\u2019s other designs, conducted over 100 3D facial scans across many ethnicities to produce a better fit, says Kevin Ngo, its creator. For the adult masks, two nose bridge sizes are offered. And users can choose a Pro Filter, with 99% filtration, or an Everyday, which is meant to be much more breathable than other masks. \u201cOur silicone gasket is incredibly soft and gentle on the skin,\u201d Ngo says. \u201cIn addition,we offer indents for glasses, which prevent any fogging.\u201d The company began shipping in May; several thousand masks are in use now, Ngo said.
Georgetown University: This team\u2019s smart mask is made of metallic foams that can be cleaned and reused.
Levi Strauss & Co.: The form of the mask can be made by any basic garment factory. It aims to activate the apparel supply chain as another source of low-cost, high-performance masks.
Matregenix: This mask, made of a transparent nanofiber, allows for easier communication while having high filtration.
SEAL Lab: The SINEW mask stands for Smart, Individualized, Near-Face, Extended Wear. The mask used technology to overcome flaws of traditional respirators, with the same degree of protection. It doesn\u2019t make contact with the skin of the wearer\u2019s face.
StaySafeNow: A team from Harvard University developed Crystal Guard, a reusable, cost-effective clear mask. Its developers say it\u2019s meant to be especially useful for essential workers, teachers, and others who have to communicate to do their work.
Bye-Bye N95?
\u201cFrom our perspective, our goal with the mask challenge was not to replace the N95 respirator,\u201d Lippold says. N95 masks, which NIOSH certifies, are valuable and protect people in high-risk settings. \u201cWith the mask challenge, our goal was really to provide the public with a comparable alternative that really meets their specific level of risk.\u201d Working in a health care setting carries a different risk, she says, than going to the grocery store.
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