# US 11,305,037 B2 · Facemask having integrated modules

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- Number: US 11,305,037 B2
- Document ID: US11305037B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/112,982
- Filed: 2020-12-05
- Published: 2021-03-25
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2020-10-23
- Applicants: Patrick Damien O'Brien; Jez Noah Ali; Arthur Ali
- Inventors: Patrick Damien O'Brien; Jez Noah Ali; Arthur Ali
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305037B2

## CPC

- A61L 27/48: with macromolecular fillers
- A61L 27/16: obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
- A61L 27/20: Polysaccharides
- A61M 5/329: {characterised by features of the needle shaft}
- A61P 19/00: Drugs for skeletal disorders
- A62B 9/006: {Indicators or warning devices, e.g. of low pressure, contamination}
- A62B 18/02: Masks (gas-masks for animals A62B18/06; masks for welders A61F9/06)
- A62B 18/10: Valves
- A62B 23/025: {the filter having substantially the shape of a mask (surgical face masks A41D13/11)}
- C08L 5/08: Chitin; Chondroitin sulfate; Hyaluronic acid; Derivatives thereof
- C08L 33/12: Homopolymers or copolymers of methyl methacrylate
- A61F 2002/4435: {Support means or repair of the natural disc wall, i.e. annulus, e.g. using plates, membranes or meshes}
- A61L 2430/38: for reconstruction of the spine, vertebrae or intervertebral discs
- A61M 2210/02: Bones
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
- A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00)
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

A facemask includes integrated actuating modules having sensors and other mechanisms. The facemask has one or more sockets into which various modules may be inserted. The facemask itself or the modules may include air filters and check valves to regulate airflow along or through the various modules. The modules may detect various substances either in the ambient air or the air exhaled by the wearer. The facemask also includes modules for measuring pulmonary and/or cardiovascular exertion, lung capacity and other physiological metrics. Other modules may provide supplements, vitamins or other substances such as tobacco smoke or vapor from vaporizers to the wearer. The modules may include microcontrollers in wireless communication with software applications on electronic devices so that the facemask may also serve as a cellular phone.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A facemask having integrated modules comprising:
a panel formed from a fabric configured to cover the mouth and nose of a wearer, the panel having an inside surface and an outside surface;
an air permeable first socket in the panel, wherein air is more likely to flow through the first socket than the fabric;
a first module removably inserted into the first socket, wherein the first module is configured to detect a presence of a communicable disease in air flowing through the first socket;
a first check valve restricting airflow through the first socket to an outward direction; and,
a first filter substantially coextensive with the air permeable first socket and positioned outward relative to the first module;
wherein the first module comprises an upper section formed from the first filter integrated into an outer layer, an inner moisture capturing layer comprising a plurality of longitudinal hydrophobic ridges, the first check valve located between the outer layer and the inner moisture capturing layer, wherein each of the ridges includes a heat sink fin extending from inside the hydrophobic ridge and through the first check valve and the outer layer; and,
a lower section comprising an outer layer having a lower check valve limiting airflow to an inward direction through the lower section, and an inner layer comprising a water-soluble inhalable medicament.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The facemask having integrated modules of claim 1 further comprising a thermometer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The facemask having integrated modules of claim 2 further comprising a view screen on the facemask is configured to display the temperature measured by the thermometer, and indicate whether the first module has detected the presence of the communicable disease.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The facemask having integrated modules of claim 2 further comprising a microphone on the inside surface of the panel, at least one earpiece having a speaker, and a microcontroller providing wireless communication.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The facemask having integrated modules of claim 4 further comprising a GPS tracking chip.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The facemask having integrated modules of claim 5, wherein the microcontroller is configured to periodically transmit location data obtained from the GPS tracking chip once the first module has detected the presence of the communicable disease.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The facemask having integrated modules of claim 6 further comprising a heart rate monitor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The facemask having integrated modules of claim 7 further comprising:
a second module removably inserted into an air permeable second socket, a second filter substantially coextensive with the second socket; and,
a second check valve restricting airflow through the second socket to an inward direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The facemask having integrated modules of claim 8 wherein the first check valve is integrated into the first module and the second check valve is integrated into the second module.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The facemask having integrated modules of claim 9 wherein the socket is on the inside of the panel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The facemask having integrated modules of claim 10 further comprising a saliva sensor on the inside surface of the panel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The facemask having integrated modules of claim 11 further comprising at least one airflow sensor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The facemask having integrated modules of claim 12 further comprising an optical head mounted display.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The facemask having integrated modules of claim 1 wherein the at least one earpiece comprises two earpieces, each having a lip forming a curved channel configured to fit over a wearer's ear, thereby securing the facemask over the wearer's mouth and nose.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The facemask having integrated modules of claim 1 further comprising at least one turbine configured to generate electric power from airflow through at least one air permeable socket.