A New and Better Mask May Soon be on the Way
Open Standard Industries, Inc. (OSI) is teaming up with researchers at Wake Forest School of Medicine to develop a new and better mask for health care professionals. According to the team, the OSR-M1 non-valved reusable elastomeric face mask can filter more than 99% of airborne particles while being highly breathable. On average, the modular design uses four times less filter material than a disposable mask. After 20-30 wears, it pays for itself, making it ideal for large employers such as health systems. The company has launched a feasibility study on the mask and submitted the mask to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. They hope to gain approval for the product as an N95 respirator. Read More
App Detects Coughs at Home
NuvoAir has released a new mobile app called “NuvoAir Cough” that can record coughs in the home setting. Using the smartphone microphone and an AI-powered algorithm, the device can detect a single cough or burst of coughs during the day and at night when the user is sleeping. The sounds are recorded and then sent to a secure server where the algorithm singles out coughs from other sounds. Results go back to the user and their clinical providers, who can use them to determine if coughs are increasing or decreasing. NuvoAir CEO Lorenzo Consoli notes, “Our vision is to offer a comprehensive care platform that empowers respiratory patients to better manage their condition. It also enables physicians to make data-driven care decisions, leading to better outcomes. Understanding cough patterns is a very important step in the right direction.” Read More
Breathalyzer in the Works for COVID-19
Researchers from Rutgers University-New Brunswick are developing a fast-acting sensor to detect COVID-19 from a person’s breath. The device, funded by the NIH RADx and Rutgers HealthAdvance programs, is expected to make COVID-19 testing easier in young children, who are often made uncomfortable by nasal swab application. “Our goal is to create a product that is not intimidating and can easily be modified for use involving other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu, or in a future pandemic,” says Edward P. DeMauro, who is one of the engineers on the project. The team is hoping to have a prototype ready by December of 2022. Read More
UGA Receives Funding to Launch Center for Influenza Disease and Emergence Research
The University of Georgia (UGA) has received $1 million in first-year funding from the NIH to develop the Center for Influenza Disease and Emergence Research (CIDER). The overall grant for the seven-year project expects to be approximately $92 million. CIDER investigators will further the understanding of influenza in humans and animals while implementing strategies to fight future outbreaks of the disease. The team will work with colleagues from other institutions, including Boston Children’s Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the University of Rochester, as well as the University of Melbourne. “The establishment of the Center for Influenza Disease and Emergence Research will bring leading researchers from a range of fields at the University of Georgia and other institutions together to address the urgent challenge that influenza poses to global health,” said S. Jack Hu, UGA’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. Read More
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Debbie Bunch is an AARC contributor who writes feature articles, news stories, and other content for Newsroom, the AARC website, and associated emailed newsletters. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, photography, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Connect with Debbie by email or on AARConnect or LinkedIn.
