# US 2021/0329990 A1 · Article for personal protective equipment using an electroceutical system

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- Number: US 2021/0329990 A1
- Document ID: US20210329990A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/239,355
- Filed: 2021-04-23
- Published: 2021-10-28
- Earliest claimed: 2020-04-27
- Assignees: Ion Defense Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ion Defense Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Mark Holler; David Morrow
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210329990A1

## CPC

- A41D 13/113: {with a vertical fold or weld}
- B01D 39/14: Other self-supporting filtering material {; Other filtering material (non-woven fabrics in general D04H3/00)}
- A41D 13/1138: {with a cup configuration}
- A41D 13/1192: {with antimicrobial agent}
- A61L 9/22: Ionisation
- A62B 23/025: {the filter having substantially the shape of a mask (surgical face masks A41D13/11)}
- B01D 39/08: Filter cloth, i.e. woven, knitted or interlaced material (metallic B01D39/10)
- B01D 39/086: {of inorganic material}
- B01D 39/1623: {of synthetic origin}
- B01D 39/1676: {of synthetic origin}
- B32B 5/022: {Non-woven fabric}
- B32B 5/024: {Woven fabric}
- B32B 5/026: {Knitted fabric}
- B32B 5/028: {Net structure, e.g. spaced apart filaments bonded at the crossing points}
- B32B 5/18: characterised by features of a layer {of} foamed material
- B32B 5/245: {another layer next to it being a foam layer}
- B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)}
- B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
- B01D 2239/0241: comprising electrically conductive fibres or particles
- B01D 2239/0258: comprising nanoparticles
- B01D 2239/0407: comprising particulate additives, e.g. adsorbents
- B01D 2239/0428: Rendering the filter material hydrophobic
- B01D 2239/0435: Electret
- B01D 2239/0442: Antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal additives
- B01D 2239/0609: Knitted
- B01D 2239/0613: Woven
- B01D 2239/0618: Non-woven
- B01D 2239/065: More than one layer present in the filtering material
- B32B 2255/02: on fibrous or filamentary layer
- B32B 2255/26: Polymeric coating
- B32B 2260/021: Fibrous or filamentary layer
- B32B 2260/046: Synthetic resin
- B32B 2262/02: Synthetic macromolecular fibres
- B32B 2262/0207: Elastomeric fibres
- B32B 2262/0253: Polyolefin fibres
- B32B 2262/0261: Polyamide fibres
- B32B 2262/0276: Polyester fibres
- B32B 2262/04: Cellulosic plastic fibres, e.g. rayon
- B32B 2262/062: Cellulose fibres, e.g. cotton
- B32B 2262/065: Lignocellulosic fibres, e.g. jute, sisal, hemp, flax, bamboo
- B32B 2262/08: Animal fibres, e.g. hair, wool, silk
- B32B 2262/103: Metal fibres
- B32B 2262/106: Carbon fibres, e.g. graphite fibres
- B32B 2264/104: Oxysalt, e.g. carbonate, sulfate, phosphate or nitrate particles
- B32B 2264/105: Metal
- B32B 2264/1051: Silver or gold
- B32B 2264/1055: Copper or nickel
- B32B 2264/108: Carbon, e.g. graphite particles
- B32B 2266/0264: Polyester
- B32B 2307/202: Conductive
- B32B 2307/7145: Rot proof, resistant to bacteria, mildew, mould, fungi
- B32B 2307/724: Permeability to gases, adsorption
- B32B 2307/73: Hydrophobic
- B32B 2571/00: Protective equipment
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM

## Abstract

An electroceutical system integrated into an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) like a face mask. The system consists of an electrochemical cell consisting of an anodic zone capable of serving as an anode, a cathodic zone capable of serving as a cathode and, optionally, a selectively conductive switch zone electrically couplable to and separating the anodic and cathodic zones and serving to switch on and off current flow between the anodic and cathodic zones.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A PPE article, comprising:
one or more layers, the article having an external side for facing side the environment, and an internal side for facing the body of a user, and wherein the article includes an energizable structure comprising an electrochemical cell consisting of an anodic zone capable of serving as an anode, and a cathodic zone capable of serving as a cathode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein the article comprises a face mask that is air permeable over at least a facial area corresponding to the mouth and/or nose of an intended user.

### Claim 3

An article comprising a filtration mask, the mask comprising:
one or more layers, the article having an external side for facing side the environment, and an internal side for facing the body of a user, and wherein the article air permeable over at least a facial area over the mouth and/or nose, the permeable facial area including an energizable structure comprising an electrochemical cell consisting of an anodic fabric zone capable of serving as an anode, a cathodic fabric zone capable of serving as a cathode, and a selectively conductive switch zone electrically couplable to and separating the anodic and cathodic zones and serving to switch on and off current flow between the anodic and cathodic zones.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1 wherein the anodic zone and cathodic zone are on opposite, lateral sides of the facial area, and further comprising a switch zone that is disposed between and adjacent to the anodic and cathodic zones, wherein the switch zone is a selectively conductive zone electrically couplable to and separating the anodic and cathodic zones and serving to switch on and off current flow between the anodic and cathodic zones.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The article of claim 3 wherein the switch zone is moisture activated to initiate and sustain current flow between the anodic and cathodic zones.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The article of claim 3 wherein the switch zone comprises an electrically insulating fabric that can absorb moisture.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1 wherein one or both of the anodic zone and cathodic zone comprises an oligodynamic structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The article of claim 7 wherein the oligodynamic structure comprises a textile structure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The article of claim 8 wherein the anodic and cathodic zones comprise a knit, woven or non-woven structure comprising yarns or fibers.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The article of claim 9 wherein the yarns or fibers have coated or embedded oligodynamic particles sufficiently exposed so that they can act as anodic or cathodic and/or oligodynamic elements.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The article of claim 10 wherein the particles comprise silver or copper particles or salts or other compositions based thereof.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The article of claim 2 further including a first carbon fiber or carbon particle structure (a “carbonized structure”) in one or more of the anodic and cathodic zones.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The article of claim 12 wherein the carbonized structure comprises a moisture management and/or conductive cooling structure.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The article of claim 12 wherein the carbonized structure comprises an energized or energizable structure.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1 wherein the article comprises a mask or respirator sized and shaped to surround and cover at least all the inhalation passages of an intended user.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1 wherein the article is made of materials and has a construction sufficiently durable to withstand at least 25 cycles of washing or laundering under conditions typical of home laundering.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1 wherein the article has a porosity sufficient to entrap various IA, including corona viruses and other prevalent pathogenic viruses.

### Claim 18 (depends on 3)

The article of claim 3 wherein a single electrochemical cell is configured with a surface area to cover at least an area around the air passages of the intended user.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1 wherein a single electrochemical cell is disposed along some or all the perimetrical edges of the article.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The article of claim 19 wherein a single electrochemical cell extends over at least 25% of the surface area of the article.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The article of claim 19 wherein a single electrochemical cell extends over at least 50% of the surface area of the article.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The article of claim 19 wherein a single electrochemical cell extends over at least 75% of the surface area of the article.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The article of claim 19 wherein a single electrochemical cell extends over at least 90% of the surface area of the article.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1 further comprising a conductive perimetrical zone conductively coupling to the anodic and/or cathodic zone in the presence of an electrolytic solvent.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1 wherein one or more of the zones have a modular construction for removably replacing the anodic, cathodic, and/or switch zone material.