'Self-Cleaning' Electric Mask Can Kill Coronavirus Using Phone Charger

A new technology that allows face masks to clean themselves by using power from a mobile phone charger could reduce the global masks shortage and provide better protection from the coronavirus.

Yair Ein-Eli, dean of the faculty of materials science and engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute for Technology (Haifa, Israel), has invented the face mask cleaning mechanism which costs around 90 cents. Yair Ein-Eli has applied for a US patent for the technology, which involves including an input for a USB cable in the mask to power the heating element inside that makes it sufficiently hot to kill germs, thus making it self-cleaning.

According to Ein-Eli, who is also a battery technology expert, a 15- to 30-minute heating cycle is sufficient to clean a mask. Ein-Eli told The Times of Israel that he hoped to license the technology to companies who would introduce it into their designs, particularly in N95 and higher grade masks meant for health professionals.

“We’re aiming initially at medical staff who need masks and need to know that they are well-cleaned and working and functioning,” said Ein-Eli. “I’m expecting that this won’t only help hospitals that are trying to source protective equipment, but also the environment, by stopping many masks from being thrown away.”

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Technion – Israel Institute for Technology