Engineers in MIT and Harvard University have created a face mask that will enable the wearer to know if he or she has the COVID-19 virus and this can be done within 90 minutes. The new wearable sensors and diagnostic face mask is embedded with tiny, disposable sensors which can be fitted into another face mask. There is another advantage: it can lead to the detection of other viruses.
The freeze-dried cellular machinery in which the sensors were based on has previously been developed by the same research team in the past for diagnosing other deadly viruses such as Ebola and Zika.
In another new study, the researchers showed that the sensors could also be embedded into not only face masks but also in lab coats and other piece of clothing, thereby paving way for a new method, whereby health care workers’ exposure to different kinds of pathogens and other threats can be monitored.
Well, do we hear and read from the horse’s mouth?
Let’s do!
James Collins, Professor of Medical Engineering and Science in MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES) and Department of Biological Engineering and the Senior Author of the study opined;
“We’ve demonstrated that we can freeze-dry a broad range of synthetic biology sensors to detect viral or bacterial nucleic acids, as well as toxic chemicals, including nerve toxins. We envision that this platform could enable next-generation wearable biosensors for first responders, health care personnel, and military personnel,” “The face mask sensors are designed so that they can be activated by the wearer when they’re ready to perform the test, and the results are only displayed on the inside of the mask, for user privacy”.
Peter Nguyen, Research Scientist, Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering talked about the PCR tests when he declared:
“This test is as sensitive as the gold standard, highly sensitive PCR tests, but it’s as fast as the antigen tests that are used for quick analysis of Covid-19.”
In his own addition, Luis Soenksen, a Venture Builder at MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Clinic for Machine Learning in Health said that “the demonstrations have essentially shrunk down the functionality of state-of-the-art molecular testing facilities into a format compatible with wearable scenarios across a variety of applications.”
Features of the facemask includes a small reservoir of water which is released at the push of a button when the wearer is ready to perform the test in return, then hydrates the freeze-dried components of the SARS-CoV-2 sensor. It thereafter, analyzes breath droplets found in inside of the facemask and within the 90 minutes time range, the result is displayed.
The project which was funded by: The Defense Threat Reduction Agency , The Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group the Wyss Institute, Johnson and Johnson Innovation JLABS, MIT , Harvard, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation will hopefully pave way for a new improved method of the Coronavirus detection.
Ayoola Faseyi, an Abuja based Journalist with interest in Technology and Politics. He is a versatile writer with articles in many renowned News Journals.
He is the Co-Founder of media brand, The Vent Republic.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Engineers in MIT and Harvard University have created a face mask that will enable the wearer to know if he or she has the COVID-19 virus and this can be done within 90 minutes. The new wearable sensors and diagnostic face mask is embedded with tiny, disposable sensors which can be fitted into another face mask. There is another advantage: it can lead to the detection of other viruses.
