Maskless respiratory, skin, and eye protection device for aerosols and vapors including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (cbrne) contaminants
A respiratory and eye protection device having at least one filter and at least one axial fan. The least one filter is configured to achieve an aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency of 50% or greater for particles having a size of about 0.3 μm and configured to achieve a vapor contamination filtration efficiency of 50% or greater for one or more of Novichok nerve agent (A232), thickened venomous nerve agent (TVX), sulfur mustard agent (HD), thickened sulfur mustard agent (THD), soman nerve agent (GD), and sarin nerve agent (GB). During the operation and monitoring of the respiratory and eye protection device, at least one fan is activated when concentrations of select aerosolized chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents are detected.
1 . A personal protection device comprising:
a frame for accommodating a user of the personal protection device;
an air processing assembly comprising:
an inlet for receiving ambient air;
an outlet;
at least one filter, wherein when the at least one filter is stacked together with at least one fan and positioned between the inlet and the outlet in a stacking direction, wherein the at least one fan is configured to generate an airflow in an inhalation zone, wherein the inhalation zone is about a 10-inch radius around the nose and mouth of the user, wherein the air processing assembly is disposed upstream from the inhalation zone with respect to a direction of the airflow configured to be generated by the at least one fan in the inhalation zone, wherein the air processing assembly is in-line with the inhalation zone,
wherein the at least one filter reduces contaminated air in the inhalation zone and comprises an aerosolized particle contamination filter configured to achieve an aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency of 75% or greater for particles having a size of about 0.3 μm, as measured in the inhalation zone at a nose level, wherein the aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency is calculated using an input from outside the inhalation zone and an output from within the inhalation zone,
wherein substantially all air released from the outlet in the inhalation zone has been filtered by the at least one filter, and
wherein the air processing assembly is coupled to the frame and processes substantially all ambient air in the direction of the airflow before entering the inhalation zone.
2 . The personal protection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter comprises a vapor contamination filter disposed upstream or downstream of the aerosolized particle contamination filter in the stacking direction, wherein the vapor contamination filter comprises activated carbon configured to achieve a vapor contamination filtration efficiency of 95% or greater for one or more of Novichok nerve agent (A232), thickened venomous nerve agent (TVX), sulfur mustard agent (HD), thickened sulfur mustard agent (THD), soman nerve agent (GD), and sarin nerve agent (GB) as measured in the inhalation zone at the nose level, wherein the vapor contamination filtration efficiency is calculated using an input from outside the inhalation zone and an output from within the inhalation zone.
3 . The personal protection device of claim 2 , wherein the activated carbon is impregnated with an impregnant selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, zinc, molybdenum, triethylenediamine (TEDA), zeolite, potassium iodine, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.
4 . The personal protection device of claim 1 , wherein the aerosolized particle contamination filter comprises pleated media selected from the group consisting of a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) filter with a rating of 13 or above, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.
5 . The personal protection device of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises:
an attachment mechanism;
optionally, a protrusion coupled to the attachment mechanism; and
optionally, a crown adapted to surround a top portion of the head of the user, coupled to the attachment mechanism and the protrusion,
wherein the airflow generated by the at least one fan is directed towards the face of the user.
6 . The personal device of claim 5 , wherein the frame further comprises a face shield comprising a semi-transparent material extending from the frame towards the inhalation zone.
7 . The personal protection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter is configured to achieve an aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency of 95% or greater for particles having a size of about 0.3 μm, as measured in the inhalation zone at the nose level, wherein the aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency is calculated using an input from outside the inhalation zone and an output from within the inhalation zone.
8 . The personal protection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fan is an axial fan configured to generate the airflow having an airflow speed of about 50 feet per minute (fpm) to about 500 fpm, as measured in an inhalation zone at the nose level.
9 . The personal protection device of claim 1 , wherein the airflow is configured to be directed towards the face of the user in the inhalation zone by about 10 degrees or more with respect to a direction parallel to the height of the user when standing.
10 . The personal protection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fan is configured to generate a noise level of less than about 63 decibels (dBA), as measured within about 3 inches from an ear of the user.
11 . The personal protection device of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises:
an attachment mechanism for attaching the personal protection device to an article of clothing, optionally wherein the article of clothing is a hat or a visor.
12 . The personal protection device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one filter comprises at least two aerosolized contamination filters,
wherein each of the at least two aerosolized contamination filters comprises a filter configured to achieve an aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency of less than 95% for particles having a size of about 0.3 μm.
13 . The personal protection device of claim 7 , wherein the aerosolized particle contamination filter comprises at least one pleat, wherein the at least one pleat is oriented substantially perpendicular to a facing direction of the user when the personal protection device is adapted to be worn by the user.
14 . The personal protection device of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the at least two aerosolized particle contamination filters comprises pleated media selected from the group consisting of a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) filter with a rating of 13 or above, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.
15 . The personal protection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter is configured to achieve an aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency of 90% or greater for particles having a size of about 0.3 μm, as measured in the inhalation zone at the nose level, only when combined, wherein each aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency is calculated using an input from outside the inhalation zone and an output from within the inhalation zone,
wherein the at least one filter comprises at least two aerosolized particle contamination filters, wherein each of the at least two aerosolized particle contamination filters comprises a filter configured to achieve an aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency of less than 90% for particles having a size of about 0.3 μm.
16 . The personal protection device of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the at least two aerosolized particle contamination filters comprises pleated media selected from the group consisting of a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) filter with a rating of 13 or above, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.
17 . The personal protection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter comprises a filter media of a size of about 5 inches or greater.
18 . The personal protection device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller electrically connected to the at least one fan and a power source;
at least one sensor for detecting a current of the at least one fan;
and an indication, wherein the controller is electrically connected with the indication and the at least one sensor, wherein the indication is an array of light and/or audible indicators for displaying a light or generating a noise when the current threshold of the at least one fan satisfies a threshold value.
19 . The personal protection device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller electrically connected to the at least one fan and a power source;
at least one sensor for detecting a concentration of one or more aerosol and/or vapor agents; and
wherein the controller is electrically connected with an indication and the at least one sensor, wherein the indication is an array of light and/or audible indicators for displaying a light or generating a noise when the concentration satisfies a threshold concentration of the one or more aerosol and/or vapor agents.
20 . A personal protection device comprising:
a frame for accommodating a user of the personal protection device;
an air processing assembly comprising:
an inlet for receiving ambient air;
an outlet;
at least one filter, wherein when the at least one filter is stacked together with at least one fan and positioned between the inlet and the outlet in a stacking direction, wherein the at least one fan is configured to generate an airflow in an inhalation zone, wherein the inhalation zone is about a 10-inch radius around the nose and mouth of the user, wherein the air processing assembly is disposed upstream from the inhalation zone with respect to a direction of the airflow configured to be generated by the at least one fan in the inhalation zone, wherein the air processing assembly is in-line with the inhalation zone,
wherein the at least one filter reduces contaminated air in the inhalation zone and comprises an aerosolized particle contamination filter configured to achieve an aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency of 75% or greater for particles having a size of about 1.0 μm,
wherein the at least one fan is configured to generate the airflow having an airflow speed of about 50 feet per minute (fpm) to about 500 fpm, as measured in an inhalation zone at a nose level,
wherein the airflow is configured to be directed towards the face of the user in the inhalation zone by about 10 degrees or more with respect to a direction parallel to the height of the user when standing;
wherein substantially all air released from the outlet in the inhalation zone has been filtered by the at least one filter, and
wherein the air processing assembly is coupled to the frame and processes substantially all ambient air in a direction of the airflow before entering the inhalation zone.
21 . The personal protection device of claim 20 , wherein at least one filter comprises an aerosolized particle contamination filter configured to achieve an aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency of 75% or greater for particles having a size of about 1.0 μm, as measured in the inhalation zone at the nose level, wherein the aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency is calculated using an input from outside the inhalation zone and an output from within the inhalation zone.
22 . The personal protection device of claim 20 , wherein the at least one filter is configured to achieve an aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency of 95% or greater for particles having a size of about 1.0 μm.
23 . The personal protection device of claim 20 , wherein the frame comprises a crown adapted to surround a top portion of the head of the user.
24 . The personal protection device of claim 22 , wherein the at least one filter comprises at least two aerosolized contamination filters, wherein each of the at least two aerosolized contamination filters comprises a filter configured to achieve an aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency of less than 95% for particles having a size of about 1.0 μm.
25 . The personal protection device of claim 24 , wherein at least one filter comprises an aerosolized particle contamination filter configured to achieve an aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency of 95% or greater for particles having a size of about 1.0 μm, as measured in the inhalation zone at the nose level, wherein the aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency is calculated using an input from outside the inhalation zone and an output from within the inhalation zone.
26 . A personal protection device comprising:
a frame for accommodating a user of the personal protection device;
an air processing assembly comprising:
an inlet for receiving ambient air;
an outlet;
at least one filter, wherein when the at least one filter is stacked together with at least one fan and positioned between the inlet and the outlet in a stacking direction, the at least one fan is configured to generate an airflow in an inhalation zone, wherein the inhalation zone is about a 10-inch radius around the nose and mouth of the user, wherein the air processing assembly is disposed upstream from the inhalation zone with respect to a direction of the airflow configured to be generated by the at least one fan in the inhalation zone, wherein the air processing assembly is in-line with the inhalation zone;
wherein the at least one filter reduces contaminated air in the inhalation zone and comprises an aerosolized particle contamination filter comprising pleated media selected from the group consisting of a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) filter with a rating of 13 or above, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing;
wherein the at least one fan is configured to generate the airflow having an airflow speed of about 50 feet per minute (fpm) to about 500 fpm, as measured in an inhalation zone at a nose level;
wherein substantially all air released from the outlet in the inhalation zone has been filtered by the at least one filter; and
wherein the air processing assembly is coupled to the frame and processes substantially all ambient air in a direction of airflow by the at least one fan before entering the inhalation zone.
27 . The personal protection device of claim 26 , wherein the at least one filter comprises at least two aerosolized contamination filters, wherein each of the at least two aerosolized contamination filters comprises a filter comprising pleated media selected from the group consisting of a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) filter with a rating of 13 or above, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.
28 . The personal protection device of claim 27 , wherein the at least one filter is configured to achieve an aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency of 95% or greater for particles having a size of about 1.0 μm.
29 . A personal protection device comprising:
a frame for accommodating a user of the personal protection device;
an air processing assembly comprising:
an inlet for receiving ambient air;
an outlet;
at least one filter, wherein when the at least one filter is stacked together with at least one fan and positioned between the inlet and the outlet in a stacking direction, wherein the at least one fan is configured to generate an airflow in an inhalation zone, wherein the inhalation zone is about a 10-inch radius around the nose and mouth of the user, wherein the air processing assembly is disposed upstream from the inhalation zone with respect to a direction of the airflow configured to be generated by the at least one fan in the inhalation zone, wherein the air processing assembly is in-line with the inhalation zone;
wherein the at least one filter comprises a vapor contamination filter comprising activated carbon configured to achieve a vapor contamination filtration efficiency of 95% or greater one or more of Novichok nerve agent (A232), thickened venomous nerve agent (TVX), sulfur mustard agent (HD), thickened sulfur mustard agent (THD), soman nerve agent (GD), and sarin serve agent (GB), as measured in the inhalation zone at a nose level, wherein the aerosolized particle contamination filtration efficiency is calculated using an input from outside the inhalation zone and an output from within the inhalation zone;
wherein the at least one fan is configured to generate the airflow having an airflow speed of about 50 feet per minute (fpm) to about 500 fpm, as measured in an inhalation zone at the nose level;
wherein substantially all air released from the outlet in the inhalation zone has been filtered by the at least one filter;
wherein the air processing assembly is coupled to the frame and processes substantially all ambient air in the direction of the airflow before entering the inhalation zone.
30 . The personal protection device of claim 29 , wherein the activated carbon is impregnated with an impregnant selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, zinc, molybdenum, triethylenediamine (TEDA), zeolite, potassium iodine, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.