INLET-OUTLET MICROBE SAFETY SYSTEM

An inlet-outlet microbe safety (IOMS) system includes a face mask configured for being secured over at least a nose and a mouth of an individual that is further configured to receive input gas and to output waste gas exhaled by the individual. A breathing device assembly includes a first microbe killer device in a path of the input gas and a second microbe killer device in a path of the waste gas. The face mask is coupled by tubing to the breathing device assembly.

FIELD

This Disclosure relates to microbe safety devices.

BACKGROUND

Microorganisms, or microbes which is the term used herein, can cause disease, and generally come in a variety of different forms. Viruses and bacteria are microbes familiar to most because they are publicized as the principal source of infectious disease. However, fungi, protozoa, and helminths can also cause infectious diseases.

Regarding a virus, there are several mechanisms that all known to be needed to be present for a viral-based disease to develop in an individual.1. Implantation of the virus at a portal of entry of a host (or individual). The virus must implant at an entry portal in the individual, such as the nose, the eyes, or the mouth of the individual. Implantation is the first stage of pathogenesis. The implantation frequency is known to be at its highest when viruses directly contact living cells. A common source for entry is known to be airborne contact from a sneeze or cough from a virus-infected individual. It is known that the average sneeze or cough propels around 100,000 contagious germs into the air at speeds up to about 100 miles per hour. These germs can carry viruses, such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenoviruses, that can cause the common cold, and more recently COVID-19 known as the “coronavirus” and its variants.2. Local replication and local spread of the virus. local replication and spread of the virus follows the implantation of the virus (step1). Replicated virus from the initially infected cell has the ability to disperse to adjacent extracellular fluids or cells. Spread of the virus occurs by the neighboring cell being infected, or the virus being released into extracellular fluid. The invading virus reproduces itself in large numbers. The invading virus typically accomplishes reproduction intracellularly.3. Dispersal of the virus. The replicated viruses spread to target organs (disease sites) throughout the body of the host. The most common route of spread of the virus from the portal of entry is the circulatory system, which the virus reaches via the lymphatic system. Viruses can access target organs from the blood capillaries by multiplying inside endothelial cells, moving through gaps, or by being carried inside the organ on leukocytes.4. Shedding is the final step. The viruses spread to sites where shedding into the environment occurs to repeat the implantation step1described above. The respiratory, alimentary and urogenital tracts and the blood are known to be the most common sites of shedding.

SUMMARY

Disclosed aspects include an inlet-outlet microbe safety (IOMS) system that can be a portable device includes a face mask configured for being secured over at least a nose and a mouth of an individual that is further configured to receive input gas and to output waste gas exhaled by the individual. A breathing device assembly includes a first microbe killer device in a path of the input gas and a second microbe killer device in a path of the waste gas. The face mask is coupled by tubing to the breathing device assembly. The first microbe killer device is provided by disclosed IOMS prevents microbes such as viruses from implanting at the nose or the mouth (optionally also at the eyes) of the individual. The second microbe killer device positioned in the outlet path of a waste gas stream exhaled by the individual kills the microbes in the case the individual is infected with one or more microbes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed embodiments are described with reference to the attached figures, wherein like reference numerals, are used throughout the figures to designate similar or equivalent elements. The figures are not drawn to scale and they are provided merely to illustrate aspects disclosed herein. Several disclosed aspects are described below with reference to example applications for illustration. It should be understood that numerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide a full understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 1is a schematic perspective view of an example of IOMS system100for use by an individual116comprising a respiratory face mask110coupled to a breathing device assembly150that includes a two-way gas device114that comprises a fresh gas supply module130for input air and a vacuum module132for receiving waste gas. The respiratory face mask110is shown optionally including a strap118for its securing the facemask to avoid microbes from entering inside to avoid implantation at the nose or the mouth of the individual116, which is recognized to represent the most common portals of entry of the individual. The respiratory face mask110also prevents microbes from emerging outside, such in the case of a sneeze or cough by the individual116.

The two-way gas device114can comprise a device used commonly in the practice of dentistry. For example, the two-way gas device114may be commercially available. In dentistry the gas supply module130is configured to supply both nitrous oxide (NO) and02, and includes valve controls for adjusting the flow of each to produce a mixture of any desired concentration. The vacuum module132provides a source of negative pressure (vacuum) to draw in the waste gas179.

The face mask110can be replaced by an article that covers more of the head, such as a helmet, or an article that beside the mouth and nose also covers the eyes of the individual116. The respiratory face mask can in one arrangement comprise a surgical face mask commonly worn by medical professionals. Surgical face masks also protect the wearer's mouth, nose and mucosa from contacting splashes or sprays of the patient's blood or other body fluids, and from airborne microorganisms. Typical face masks include a body that covers the nose and mouth of the individual116and two sets of ties that are attached to the body that the wearer must tie behind the individual's116head to secure the mask to the individual's116face. Having two sets of ties provides the face mask110with some adjustability as the wearer may position the ties to suit the individual's116comfort and preference.

There is an inlet microbe killer device183a1positioned in the path of the fresh gas supply182that is supplied through the fresh gas supply tube152and an outlet microbe killer device183a2in the path of the waste gas179exhaled by the individual116. A variety of different microbe killer devices can be used with disclosed aspects. One example of a microbe killer device is germicidal air purifiers that use materials and technologies such as based on ultraviolet (UV) light, natural silver, and sterilizing heat to eliminate airborne microbes from the air. A UV air purifier uses an internal UV-C germicidal light to kill airborne microbes such as bacteria, viruses, germs, and allergens as room air moves through the system. The UV light eliminates these microbes by breaking down their genetic structures whether DNA-based or RNA-based by damaging the DNA or the RNA, and also deactivating the microbes reproductive capabilities. Another example microbe killer device is a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor which is a non-thermal reactor.

The inlet microbe killer device183a1associated with the fresh gas supply is configured to kill microbes received in from the ambient. For example, the recirculated cabin air in a commercial airplane can be a potentially dangerous ambient because it may include microbes from one or more infected individuals on the airplane. Disclosed IOMS may be utilized by passengers on an airplane. In this case the IOMS system100may include an electrical receptacle (plug) that is adapted to receive electrical power, and is wired to provide electricity including to the microbe killer devices.

The outlet microbe killer device183a2can kill microbes exhaled as waste gas179by the individual116that flows through a waste gas tube178. There is a battery194shown, such as a rechargeable lithium battery, for generally powering light sources (e.g., UV light source) in the microbe killers183a1and183a2. As noted above, a UV light-based air purifier uses an internal UV-C germicidal light to kill airborne bacteria, viruses, germs, and allergens as room or other environment air moves through the system.

There may be some passive microbe killer devices possible which do not require a battery or other power source. For example, silver nanomaterials silver (Ag) nanoparticles are known to have good microbe killing properties.

FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view of an example DBD plasma reactor200that can be used as a microbe killer device for disclosed aspects. The DBD plasma reactor200comprises an outer electrode205, that is radially outside a dielectric liner210, and there is also an inner electrode215. Between the respective electrodes there is a void region that is shown filled with dielectric beads225, such as glass beads. In operation, the battery194shown inFIG. 1supplies DC power, that is converted to alternating current (AC) power by suitable DC/AC converter, where the AC power is applied between the inner electrode215and the outer electrode205to generate the plasma. The dielectric beads225function by each capturing small electrical arc discharges. As AC power is applied to the DBD plasma reactor200results in electrons are generated and atoms are pulled from their molecules, which generally produces a silent plasma glow.

The result of operating the DBD plasma reactor is the generation of a large number free radicals, which are known to be highly reactive particles that look to reach a stable equilibrium by forming new compounds. The oxygen radical is particularly excited, and when it reacts with a molecule of oxygen gas (O2) at room temperature which will be present with inlet and outlet gas flows, where the reaction of the O2with the oxygen radical rapidly forms O3which is known as ozone. Within a short period of time, such as about 1/10 of a second, due to the presence of a significant concentration ozone, plasma exposure can rupture a microbe's cell's wall, including viruses and bacteria, impairing and destroying the microbe's normal activity to be properly considered to be a microbe killer device.

Disclosed IOMS systems are generally configured to be worn around one's waist, such as in a holster arrangement analogous to how a smartphone is held, or held in one's pocket. It may also be possible to fit disclosed IOMS systems in one's shirt pocket or equivalent.

While various disclosed aspects have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not as a limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosed aspects can be made in accordance with the Disclosure herein without departing from the spirit or scope of this Disclosure. Thus, the breadth and scope of this Disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described aspects. Rather, the scope of this Disclosure should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.