# US 12,109,519 B2 · Apparatus for a molecular imprinted protective face mask

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- Number: US 12,109,519 B2
- Document ID: US12109519B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/900,682
- Filed: 2020-06-12
- Published: 2021-12-16
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-12
- Assignees: Utah Valley University
- Applicants: Utah Valley University
- Inventors: Timothy Edwin Doyle
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109519B2

## CPC

- A41D 13/1192: {with antimicrobial agent}
- B01D 39/1623: {of synthetic origin}
- A61B 5/1468: using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means
- A61B 5/1477: non-invasive
- A61B 5/6803: {Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles}
- A61M 15/0001: {Details of inhalators; Constructional features thereof}
- A61M 15/0085: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)}
- A61M 15/02: with activated or ionised {fluids, e.g. electrohydrodynamic [EHD] or electrostatic devices}; Ozone-inhalators {with radioactive tagged particles}
- A61M 16/105: {Filters (A61M16/047, A61M16/22 take precedence; water traps A61M16/08)}
- A61M 16/1055: {bacterial}
- A61M 16/107: {in the inspiratory path}
- A61M 16/147: {the respiratory gas not passing through the liquid container}
- A61P 11/08: Bronchodilators
- A62B 9/006: {Indicators or warning devices, e.g. of low pressure, contamination}
- A62B 18/025: {Halfmasks (A62B23/02 takes precedence; surgical face masks A41D13/11)}
- A62B 23/025: {the filter having substantially the shape of a mask (surgical face masks A41D13/11)}
- B01D 39/1676: {of synthetic origin}
- B01D 39/1692: {Other shaped material, e.g. perforated or porous sheets}
- A61B 5/082: {Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath (A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence)}
- A61B 5/4839: {combined with drug delivery}
- A61B 5/747: {in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services}
- A61L 2209/111: Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
- A61L 2209/14: Filtering means
- A61M 2205/0205: Materials having antiseptic or antimicrobial properties, e.g. silver compounds, rubber with sterilising agent
- A61M 2205/0238: the material being a coating or protective layer
- A61M 2205/0244: Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
- A61M 2205/0294: Piezoelectric materials
- A61M 2205/18: with alarm
- A61M 2205/3303: Using a biosensor
- A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means
- A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
- A61M 2205/7509: for virus
- A61M 2205/7518: bacterial
- A61M 2205/7536: allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
- A61M 2205/82: Internal energy supply devices
- A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
- A61M 2209/10: Equipment for cleaning
- A61M 2230/437: the anaesthetic agent concentration
- B01D 39/04: Organic material, e.g. cellulose, cotton
- B01D 46/0027: {with additional separating or treating functions}
- B01D 46/0032: {using electrostatic forces to remove particles, e.g. electret filters}
- B01D 2239/0258: comprising nanoparticles
- B01D 2239/0414: Surface modifiers, e.g. comprising ion exchange groups
- B01D 2239/0421: Rendering the filter material hydrophilic
- B01D 2239/0478: on a layer of the filter
- B01D 2239/0492: on fibres
- B01D 2239/0622: Melt-blown
- B01D 2239/0636: Two or more types of fibres present in the filter material
- G01N 33/0004: {Gaseous mixtures, e.g. polluted air}
- A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- 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)
- 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)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

Disclosed herein is a molecular imprinted protective face mask comprising a supportive structure, a surface material that receives and retains a molecular imprint and that is positioned to contact airborne molecules during use, a molecular imprint of a bioactive molecule wherein an imprinted cavity is at least one of a bioactive molecule with a molecular configuration that captures a specific airborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecule and a protein with a binding site that captures a specific molecule.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A biofunctional molecular imprint apparatus, the apparatus comprising a face mask or similar personal protective equipment for filtering air, and/or detecting hazardous substances or infectious pathogens in the air, the apparatus comprising:
an air filtering component comprising one or more air-permeable layers of molecular imprinted fabric, woven material, non-woven material, and/or a porous material positioned to contact an airborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecule during use;
a molecular imprint wherein an imprinted cavity of the molecular imprint is configured to mimic at least one of:
a bioactive molecule that captures a specific airborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecule; or
a protein with a binding site that captures a specific airborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecule; and
an electronic enhancement integrated, dispersed, and/or deposited into, with, or onto at least a portion of the air filtering component of the mask, wherein the electronic enhancement comprises at least one of an electrode, a semiconductor, a nanoparticle quantum dot, a nano-island, a quantum wire, other nanostructured component, a piezoelectric element, an acoustic waveguide, an optical waveguide, a transducer, a sensor wire, a biomimetic microchip, or a laser.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air filtering component comprises an air-permeable material comprising at least one of paper, polymer foam, woven fabric, knitted fabric, non-woven fabric, melt-blown fabric, ion-infused fabric, a non-fabric material, or a hydrophilic material to capture microscopic airborne droplets to enable the interaction of the molecular imprints with airborne hazardous substances and/or infectious pathogens in an aqueous environment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more air-permeable layers of the air filtering component catalyze a biochemical reaction with an airborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecule or agent to attenuate, neutralize, and/or detect the molecule or agent, wherein the agent comprises a one or more microscopic entity bound, conjugated, or otherwise associated with a molecule or binding site compatible with the molecular imprint of the imprinted cavity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the electronic enhancement comprises at least one of: generates a static and time-varying electrical field, produces an electron wave function configuration that dynamically reconfigures the electron charge distribution within the imprinted cavity, enables tuning of the imprinted cavity, generates at least one of ultrasonic or electromagnetic waves, or mechanically agitates a biomolecule to induce its interaction with or release from the imprinted cavity.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a specific air-permeable layer (n) of the air filtering component catalyzes a particular step (p) in a multistep biochemical reaction with the airborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecule or agent.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein an additional specific air-permeable layer (n+x) of the air filtering component catalyzes a successive step (p+y) in a multistep biochemical reaction with the airborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecule or agent, where x and y are non-zero members.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each air-permeable layer of the air filtering component catalyzes a particular step of the biochemical reaction with the airborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecule or agent to attenuate, neutralize, and/or detect the agent.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the air filtering component comprises one or more layers of porous material comprising fibers comprising at least one of a plurality of molecular imprint types, conductive electrodes, sensor wires, optical waveguides, or acoustic waveguides.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality molecular imprint types catalyze a multistep biochemical reaction to attenuate, neutralize, or detect the airborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecule or agent.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least some of the plurality of molecular imprint types simultaneously catalyze one or more biochemical reactions to at least one of attenuate, neutralize, or detect one or more hazardous airborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecules or agents.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one or more of the sensor wires read the binding state of molecular imprint cavities to detect a hazardous airborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecule or agent.

### Claim 12 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the air filtering component comprises a transducer comprising an interdigital electrode and other device for at least one of fine-tuning the molecular imprint to enhance its response to a range of molecules, providing electrical energy to free molecules from the imprinted binding site, re-activating the specific molecule capture function of the imprint site, or interacting with the molecular imprint to function as a biosensor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the biosensor comprises a molecular imprinted polymer surface comprising at least one of surface plasmon resonance (SPR), surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), fluorescence quenching of semiconductor quantum dots, photoluminescence, UV-visible spectroscopy, electrochemical sensors (conductivity, capacitance, impedance, potentiometry, and voltammetry measurements), piezoelectric (quartz crystal microbalance, surface acoustic wave (SAW), pulse-echo ultrasound, through-transmission ultrasound, and/or phased-array ultrasound) sensors, or biomimetic microchips with micropatterned imprinted polymers.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a conductive electrode functions as an interdigital electrode for at least one of enhancing, modulating, or reading the binding state of the imprinted cavity.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the interdigital electrode comprises at least one of comb-shaped interlocking arrays of straight parallel electrodes, a fan-shaped array of radially-oriented electrodes, an array of concentrically-oriented circular electrodes, or arrays comprising electrodes arranged in one or more complex geometries.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the biosensor triggers re-tuning the imprinted cavity in response to at least one of a completed reaction or a changing molecular environment.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the biosensor of the air filtering component and/or the molecular imprint cavity is configured to sense at least one of a specific health condition, a specific type of pathogen, a specific type of pollutant, a specific type of allergen, or a specific environment or condition and/or is customized to a specific user or set of users.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising at least one of an alarm or a triggerable reservoir of inhalable or other appropriate medication.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the triggerable reservoir of medication comprises at least one of a loaded molecular imprint cavity or other storage medium.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the specific user or set of users comprises a person or persons with compromised lung function and wherein the biosensor senses restricted air flow through a porous material and triggers an alarm and/or release of a bronchodilator and/or other lung treatment.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the biosensor is tuned to sense specific volatile organic molecules in the exhaled breath of the user and to trigger an alarm and/or the release of an appropriate medication.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The electronic enhancement of claim 1, wherein the electronic enhancement is configured as a particle, a fiber, a wire, a ribbon, a porous layer, a mesh, a microchip, or other form of solid inclusion.