Northwestern University engineers have developed a new smart sensor platform for face masks that they are calling a "Fitbit for the face."
Dubbed "FaceBit," the lightweight, quarter-sized sensor uses a tiny magnet to attach to any N95, cloth or surgical face mask.
Not only can it sense the user's real-time respiration rate, heart rate and mask wear time, it also may be able to replace cumbersome tests by measuring mask fit. All this information is then wirelessly transmitted to a smartphone app, which contains a dashboard for real-time health monitoring. The app can immediately alert the user when issues - such as elevated heart rate or a leak in the mask - unexpectedly arise. The physiological data also could be used to predict fatigue, physical health status and emotional state.
Although a tiny battery powers the device, FaceBit is designed to harvest energy from any variety of ambient sources - including the force of the user's breathing, motion and heat from a user's breath as well as from the sun. This extends the sensor's battery life, lengthening time between charges.
"We wanted to design an intelligent face mask for health care professionals that does not need to be inconveniently plugged in during the middle of a shift," said Northwestern's Josiah Hester, who led the device development. "We augmented the battery's energy with energy harvesting from various sources, which means that you can wear the mask for a week or two without having to charge or replace the battery."
The research was published last week
