{"id":160017,"date":"2020-04-16T15:15:14","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T19:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=160017"},"modified":"2020-04-16T16:03:48","modified_gmt":"2020-04-16T20:03:48","slug":"ppe-patent-pending-next-generation-custom-fitting-masks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2020\/04\/ppe-patent-pending-next-generation-custom-fitting-masks\/","title":{"rendered":"PPE Patent Pending: Next Generation Custom-fitting Masks"},"content":{"rendered":"

UConn is developing the latest innovative approach to tackling the personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage that has developed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and it has already been used to protect front-line providers at UConn Health.<\/p>\n

The Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering<\/a> has developed a method to fabricate custom-fit mask frames and exoskeletons to give conventional masks the optimal protective qualities of N95 respirators.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe use a combination of facial recognition software and 3D printing to create the exact dimensions and make the perfect size,\u201d says Dr. Cato T. Laurencin<\/a>, the institute\u2019s CEO. \u201cIt\u2019s very difficult to make one-size fits all, and one size shouldn\u2019t fit all.\u201d<\/p>\n

A machine shop in the UConn School of Engineering in Storrs is handling the 3D printing. The first lot of custom-fit mask frames was delivered to nurses in UConn Health\u2019s intensive care unit Thursday.<\/p>\n

N95 respirator masks, generally seen as the most effective facial PPE to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, continue to be in high demand in health care worldwide. To be at their most effective, they need to pass a fit test to demonstrate they form a proper seal on the wearer\u2019s face. With a properly sized mask frame or exoskeleton to fit over them, conventional masks can meet N95 standards, resulting in thousands of safer protective masks in UConn Health’s case.<\/p>\n

UConn has submitted a patent application on this innovation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis could be a life-saving tool that we can use right away to preserve lives in the global fight against this pandemic,\u201d Laurencin says. \u201cThe university is already beginning to partner with companies in the state that are interested in mass producing these.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Amir<\/a>
Amir Seyedsalehi (left), a graduate research assistant in the Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering, works with UConn Health float pool nurse Amy Lipka to create a customized mask frame using facial recognition software. (Photo by Eva Homan)<\/div><\/div>\"Machine<\/a>
Machine shop technicians Mark Bouley and Peter Glaude are using their 3D printer in the UConn School of Engineering to produce custom-fit mask frames and exoskeletons to enhance the protective qualities of masks for health care providers. (Photo Mark Bouley)<\/div><\/div>\"Crystall<\/a>
Crystall Coe, assistant nurse manager in the intensive care unit at the UConn John Dempsey Hospital, is among the first to use a custom-fit frame over her mask, designed and provided by the Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering. (Photo by Godwin Dzidotor)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UConn and UConn Health collaboration uses facial recognition technology to 3D-print individually sized add-ons that ensure proper fit and optimal protection.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":160018,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2213,2231,179],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[2010],"class_list":["post-160017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-coronavirus","category-health-well-being","category-uconn-health"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-22 05:40:54","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/111"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160017"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160017\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":160027,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160017\/revisions\/160027"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/160018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160017"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=160017"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=160017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}