You might stop breathing Signs of your healthResearchers say they have developed a “smart mask” to take advantage of this.
Wei Gao, a professor of medical engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, led the team that created the mask, called EBCare. The mask analyzes chemicals in a person’s breath to detect any existing health problems.
This mask is designed for screening medical conditions such as respiratory infections, COPD (COPD).Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseAccording to a press release from Caltech, it is a risk factor for asthma and subsequent COVID-19 infections.
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EBCare cools breath and turns it into a liquid, then delivers it to sensors to analyze specific biomarkers.
Researchers have developed a “smart mask” (pictured at left) to detect symptoms of medical conditions. (Caltech/Wei Gao and Wenzheng Heng; iStock)
In an email sent to Fox News Digital, lead researcher Gao noted the mask’s ability to enable “continuous, real-time monitoring of exhaled condensate (EBC) in a non-invasive and wearable format.”
“This technology has the potential to revolutionise the way respiratory health is monitored, providing valuable information.” Conditions like asthma“This could be a path to more personalized health care,” Gao said.
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“It can also be applied in pandemic management by monitoring respiratory infections on a large scale,” he said.
Gao said the ultimate goal is for the EBCare technology to go beyond respiratory illnesses.
“As the research progresses, we believe the smart mask will be able to be adapted to detect a wider range of biomarkers, including those related to metabolism, the heart, and blood vessels.” infectious diseases,” He said.
This diagram shows the process by which a smart mask can detect chemicals in the breath, such as nitrites, which are indicators of airway inflammation. (Caltech/Wei Gao and Wenzheng Heng)
According to Caltech, the study of the mask’s capabilities involved 31 healthy adults who wore the EBCare under real-life conditions over a 14-hour period. They only removed the mask at three-minute intervals to eat.
Ten of the participants were smokers, 10 had asthma, nine had COPD and 12 had recently recovered. COVID-19,
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The masks accurately detected biomarkers of asthma and COPD in the participating patients. They also successfully detected signs of kidney disease.
The EBCare also accurately measured blood alcohol levels.
“Supervision Alcohol Levels “It provides a non-invasive and continuous alternative to breath tests or blood tests in real time,” Gao said.
“We will need to see at least some clinical studies that demonstrate that masks can diagnose better — or more rapidly or with greater sensitivity — than standard care.”
The research — which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Tobacco Related Diseases Research Program and the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity — was published Aug. 29 in the journal Science.
The smart mask is not intended to replace traditional medical diagnosis, but rather to provide “early warning” and “bridge the gap” through continuous health monitoring during daily activities. go to the doctorGao said.
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“The goal is to identify subtle physiological changes before they develop into a more serious condition, giving individuals the opportunity to take proactive steps in managing their health,” he said.
This is especially important for people who require regular monitoring, such as patients with chronic diseases or those recovering from an illness. respiratory infection A pandemic like COVID-19 could also occur, according to Gao.
The mask (not pictured) is designed to screen for medical conditions such as respiratory infections, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma and post-Covid infections. (iStock)
“I suggest that health care providers “We should consider integrating real-time EBC analysis technology into our diagnosis and monitoring processes, especially for chronic diseases such as asthma and COPD,” he said.
“For individuals, the ability to monitor their health in a non-invasive way via a wearable device provides an opportunity to be more proactive in managing personal health, which may lead to early intervention and better health outcomes.”
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Mark Allen Derry, DO, MPH, infectious disease physician and chief innovation officer Access Health LouisianaThose who were not involved in the development of the smart mask agreed that it was an “exciting concept.”
“Could it work? Sure,” he told Fox News Digital.
Wei Gao, a professor of medical engineering at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, led the team that created the EBCare mask. (Caltech)
“However, we must look at at least some people who Clinical Studies He added, “This suggests that masks may diagnose better — or more rapidly or with greater sensitivity — than standard care.”
“Again, we will need studies that demonstrate clinical improvement.”
Potential Limitations
Some outside doctors not involved in the mask’s development have questioned whether this method of data collection is beneficial.
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“While the mask presents an innovative method for monitoring exhaled breath condensation (EBC), we need to ask an important question: do these continuous, real-time measurements actually make a difference in everyday life?” said Dr. Brett Osborne. Florida NeurosurgeonIn conversation with Fox News Digital.
“For the average person, the biomarkers it detects – ammonium, pH, nitrite and alcohol – do not require constant monitoring, especially when regular blood tests can provide this information with greater accuracy and greater relevance.”
One doctor said, “For the average person, there is no need for constant monitoring of the biomarkers it detects, especially when regular blood tests can provide this information with greater accuracy and greater relevance.” (iStock)
Osborn believes the EBCare mask concept is more suited for “specific, high-stakes environments,” such as real-time monitoring of toxic gases in a military or industrial environment.
“However, for the average person, especially in a post-pandemic world, the idea of wearing such a mask is repulsive,” he added.
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Dr. John W. Ayers, PhD, deputy chief for innovation in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health at the University of California San Diego, also questioned the idea of making patients with asthma or COPD — who already have difficulty breathing — wear masks.
“For the average person, especially in a post-pandemic world, the idea of wearing a mask like this is repulsive.”
Lead researcher Gao responded to some of these comments.
“Although routine blood tests are indeed reliable, they are typically periodic and require a clinical setting, which limits their ability to capture day-to-day physiological changes,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“The real innovation of the EBcare mask lies in its ability to continuously monitor health in real-time, providing information that may not be possible to detect with intermittent tests.”
According to researchers, for individuals suffering from long-term diseases such as asthma, COPD or metabolic disorders, fluctuations in certain biomarkers may provide early warning signs. (iStock)
For people who manage chronic conditions According to the researchers, in diseases such as asthma, COPD or metabolic disorders, fluctuations in certain biomarkers could provide early warning before symptoms worsen, allowing for timely intervention.
However, GAO acknowledged some limitations of the EBCare device.
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“One of the limitations in some of the clinical trials was that the sample sizes were relatively small, particularly for conditions like COPD and asthma,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Future studies with larger and more diverse populations will help further validate the device’s performance in a variety of conditions and environments.”
