A face mask can shield us from COVID and different respiratory ailments. Now, it is also used as a non-invasive machine to check the well being of our physique as has been efficiently demonstrated by researchers on the BITS-Pilani Hyderabad campus’ Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Microfluids and Nanoelectronics (MMNE) Lab.
The group together with analysis scholar P. Ramya Priya, Professor Sanket Goel and Associate Professor Satish Kumar Dubey designed and developed a ‘Kirigami’ primarily based stretchable, versatile Laser induced Graphene (LIG) a 3-D carbon nanomaterial, for real-time attachments with surgical masks.
LIG is a broadly used materials for monitoring important physiological indicators comparable to breath fee (BR) or respiratory fee (RR), physique temperature, pulse fee, and blood oxygen saturation. Monitoring breath fee is taken into account as a parameter to detect ailments like cardiac arrest, bronchial asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, and naturally, COVID-19.
Researchers used the sensor hooked up to a gasoline mask to analyze the breath sample of the topic seated on a chair by validating the change in resistance throughout inhalation and exhalation. The fee of respiratory usually varies primarily based on age till and except the individual is diseased. Fitness of an individual could be decided by Breath Index – measuring RR and DR, stated Prof. Goel.
The product is customizable and can be utilized to develop numerous sizes and patterns of ‘Kirigami’ (Japanese artwork of paper slicing giving a 3D factor) primarily based buildings for sufferers with various age teams and demographics. The sensor could be positioned over the mouth and nostril with out inflicting any irritation whereas guaranteeing steady working.
Applications in numerous eventualities have been carried out demonstrating promising potential in healthcare, illness prognosis, e-skin, and so forth with the detection capability being lower than one second. The sensor has potential in wearable/versatile healthcare know-how owing to its excessive sensitivity, flexibility and cost-effectiveness. And, might assist in early detection of diseases like coronary heart illness, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pneumonia, persistent obstructive pulmonary illness (COPD), sleep apnea syndrome (SAS), and lung most cancers saving many lives, he defined.
Prof. Goel stated the sensor might be utilized in a variety of settings, comparable to cloth masks, surgical masks, oxygen masks, and so on., making it appropriate for evaluating signs of COVID-19 and different respiratory illnesses. The venture was performed below the aegis of Department of Science & Technology- Biomedical Device and Technology Development (BDTD) and has been accepted for publication in ‘IEEE Sensors Journal.’
