Systems and methods for automated respirator
A computing device is described, which includes a processor and memory with instructions. When executed, these instructions enable the processor to: receive data about gas characteristics in a sealed space between a wearer's face and a negative pressure reusable respirator; assess the performance of a respirator seal check by the wearer; detect if the respirator is being worn; take specific actions if the respirator is worn but the seal check does not meet safety standards; and modify these actions if the seal check meets safety standards. A system incorporating this computing device is also described.
1 . A system comprising:
a negative pressure reusable respirator configured to be worn by a wearer and to cover at least a mouth and a nose of the wearer to form a sealed space formed by a face of the wearer and the negative pressure reusable respirator, wherein the negative pressure reusable respirator comprises at least one valve;
a first sensor configured to generate first sensor data indicative of a gas characteristic in a sealed space formed by a face of the wearer and the negative pressure reusable respirator;
a second sensor configured to generate second sensor data indicative of a position of the at least one valve of the negative pressure reusable respirator;
at least one processor configured to:
determine that the negative pressure reusable respirator is being worn by the wearer;
determine, based on the first sensor data indicative of a gas characteristic in the sealed space formed by a face of the wearer and the negative pressure reusable respirator and the second sensor data indicative of the position of the at least one valve, the performance of a respirator seal check by the wearer;
perform one or more actions in response to determining that the respirator is being worn by the wearer and the wearer has not performed the respirator seal check; and
alter the one or more actions in response to determining that the negative pressure reusable respirator is being worn by the wearer and the wearer has performed the respirator seal check.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the negative pressure reusable respirator comprises at least one contaminant capture device configured to remove contaminants from air as the air is drawn through the contaminant capture device when the wearer inhales, and wherein the at least one contaminant capture device is configured to be removable from the negative pressure reusable respirator.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is operably disposed on at least one accessory, and wherein the at least one accessory is operably disposed on the negative pressure reusable respirator.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the accessory or the at least one processor is physically coupled to the negative pressure reusable respirator.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the accessory or the at least one processor is physically coupled to the sensor.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the action comprises outputting at least one alert to the wearer, wherein the alert comprises at least one of an audible alert, a visual alert, a text alert, a haptic alert, or a combination thereof.
7 . The system of claim 6 wherein, altering the one or more actions comprises altering at least one of the alerts to the wearer by altering at least one of intensity of the alert, frequency of the alert, tone of the alert, pattern of the alert, color of the alert, display of the alert, or a combination thereof.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein altering the one or more actions comprises discontinuing at least one of the alerts to the wearer.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein determining that the negative pressure reusable respirator is being worn by the wearer includes determining that the negative pressure reusable respirator was transitioned between a state of being worn by a wearer and a state of not being worn by a wearer.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the determining the performance of the respirator seal check comprises determining whether the respirator seal check has been performed within a period of the negative pressure reusable respirator entering a state of being worn by the wearer that is less than a predetermined period of time.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the determining the performance of the respirator seal check comprises determining that a respirator seal check was performed by the wearer before a period of the negative pressure reusable respirator being in a state of not being worn by a wearer that is less than a predetermined period of time.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the determining the performance of the respirator seal check comprises applying a model to the first sensor data and the second sensor data to determine whether respiration occuredthrough the at least one valve and the respirator seal check was performed, wherein the model is trained based on gas characteristic data associated with one or more of:
the wearer,
a plurality of other wearers,
contaminants within an environment,
a type of contaminant capture device; and
combinations thereof.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the model is time dependent.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein determining that the negative pressure reusable respirator is configured to be worn by a wearer comprises detecting a change in first sensor data indicative of a gas characteristic in the sealed space, wherein the change is greater than a predetermined threshold.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the gas characteristic is selected from at least one of air pressure, gas composition, temperature, gas flow rate, and combinations thereof.
16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to use the first sensor data and the second sensor data to determine at least one physical state of the negative pressure reusable respirator.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the physical state is selected from at least one of:
(a) presence of physical components of the negative pressure reusable respirator;
(b) performance metrics of physical components of the negative pressure reusable respirator;
(c) pressure drop of the negative pressure reusable respirator;
(d) pressure drop of the negative pressure reusable respirator at different air flow rates through the respirator;
(e) ambient temperature;
(f) temperature within the negative pressure reusable respirator;
(g) composition of ambient gases in the workplace;
(h) composition of gases within the negative pressure reusable respirator; and
(i) a combination of any or all of (a)-(h).
18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a change in at least one physical state of the negative pressure reusable respirator.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the physical components of the negative pressure reusable respirator are selected from at least one of one or more valves, one or more contaminant capture devices, one or more removable piece, and combinations thereof.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to use the first sensor data to determine usage information related to the negative pressure reusable respirator.
21 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor comprises an electromagnetic radiation emitter and an electromagnetic radiation detector.
22 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sensor are disposed proximate to the at least one valve.
23 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
compare the first sensor data indicative of the gas characteristic in the sealed space to the second sensor data indicative of the position of the at least one valve to determine usage information related to the negative pressure reusable respirator.
24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the usage information selected from at least one of: respiration through the at least one valve, occlusion of an inhalation path of the negative pressure reusable respirator; occlusion of an exhalation path of the negative pressure reusable respirator; occurrence of a wearer seal check; information related to a performance procedure of a wearer seal check; information related to quality of a seal formed by the face of the wearer and the negative pressure reusable respirator; change in the seal formed by the face of the wearer and the negative pressure reusable respirator; and any combinations thereof.