The Race to Develop the Best Face Masks for COVID-Protection

September 9, 2020 – Two former Apple employees, Duong and Paseman, have designed a new mask technology that claims to provide high-quality protection. The Injection Molded Autoclavable, Scalable, Conformable (iMASC) prototype mask seeks to address the shortage of high-quality PPE for healthcare workers. The mask is made of clear silicone rubber and has two filters near the mouth for easy breathing. After undergoing its first round of testing, 95% of their participants rated the iMASC breathability as either excellent or good. Now the mask is undergoing additional test to assess its performance for extended wear. Other developers have also created their own version of silicone-based masks. Inventor, Alice Min Soo Chun, CEO of SEEUS95 Inc. sought to create a mask prototype that addressed the massive amount of waste that current masks produce. The SEEUS95 is also made of silicone and uses “proprietary N95 biofilters.” These biofilters are made of bamboo fibers, silk, silver, and carbon. Though these biofilters are not recyclable or compostable, they are biodegradable. The technology behind the mask attaches to the face with a sticky “skin therapy layer” that creates an airtight seal. Currently, the SEEUS95 mask is still in its testing phases. Some medical professionals do not believe we need “better” masks, but rather improved education on mask wearing. Other medical professionals argue that improved mask technology have extensive benefits [Source: Hannah Thomasy via UNDark].