Duck-Billed Surgical Mask Offers More Protection

A new surgical mask incorporates proprietary filtration media and a rayon outer layer to deliver increased breathability and comfort.

The 3M Filtron 1900 latex-free tie-on surgical mask features a popular duckbill design, which helps keep the mask away from nose and mouth for enhanced comfort, easier breathing, and unmuffled speech. A distinctive three-layer filter combination reduces fogging that results from breathing into a surgical mask, and has a lower pressure drop (delta P) across the facemask, a measurement denoting greater breathability sought by clinicians performing longer surgical procedures. The mask features a lightweight construction and is designed to fit a variety of facial shapes and sizes. Bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) and particulate filtration efficiency (PFE) are both over 99%. The mask is fluid-resistant to help reduce potential exposure to blood and body fluids. Duckbill surgical masks are designed with a large single fold that angles off the face from the enclosed nosepiece, creating a larger breathing chamber than that of standard masks. The 3M Filtron 1900 is a product of 3M Health Care (St. Paul, MN, USA).

"In response to customers seeking a higher-performing surgical mask, we are pleased to be able to offer the 3M Filtron 1900,” said DeAnn Hammer, marketing manager for 3M Health Care.

While the use of surgical masks during operations does not influence the number of potential pathogenic bacteria in the air close to the operative site and has questionable value in protecting the patient, the use of surgical masks in protecting the surgical team from contaminated contacts is an important principle to consider. With the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, it is prudent to protect medical staff against possible routes of transmission such as blood and body fluid splashes.


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