Oklahoma Patent of the Month – January 2024
Experts in biomedical and electronic technologies, American Biomedical Group Inc. (ABGI) has been granted a patent for their respiratory face mask designs. Face masks are used in medical, industrial, and household applications with most designed to protect the wearer from inhaling dust and contaminants. ABGI’s mask is designed to filter our airborne contaminants, microorganisms, and microbes to better protect against disease. Their respiratory face mask combines innovation with functionality, promising a new level of protection and safety in an increasingly health-conscious world.
At the heart of this invention lies a filter cartridge designed to not only filter breathing air but also generate an electrical voltage field within the mask. The intricacy of the design is impressive: a face shield, polymer-made for durability, covers the mouth and nose. The shield features a cartridge receptacle on the front, a small but vital component that houses the revolutionary breathing cartridge.
This breathing cartridge, a combination of a hydration sponge and a fabric material, takes center stage. The hydration sponge, typically made of polyurethane or polypropylene, holds an electrolyte solution. This solution activates the fabric material, woven from cotton and embedded with dissimilar metal particles – silver and zinc.
The magic happens when these metal particles, strategically spaced apart on the fabric, meet the electrolyte solution. A galvanic cell is formed, generating an electric voltage within the cartridge. The ingenuity of this design lies not only in its ability to filter the air but also in its capacity to create an additional layer of defense against harmful agents.
The fabric material, with its dissimilar metal particles, isn’t just any filter. It becomes an active participant in the protection process, producing an electric voltage field that enhances the mask’s germicidal properties. This goes beyond the conventional N95 masks, offering a dual-layered defense mechanism against airborne contaminants.
To ensure practicality, a retainer ring secures the hydration sponge and fabric material in the cartridge receptacle, forming a cohesive unit. The mask is further engineered with a periphery seal, ensuring a snug fit on the wearer’s face.
Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.
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The Research & Experimentation Tax Credit (or R&D Tax Credit), is a general business tax credit under Internal Revenue Code section 41 for companies that incur research and development (R&D) costs in the United States. The credits are a tax incentive for performing qualified research in the United States, resulting in a credit to a tax return. For the first three years of R&D claims, 6% of the total qualified research expenses (QRE) form the gross credit. In the 4th year of claims and beyond, a base amount is calculated, and an adjusted expense line is multiplied times 14%. Click here to learn more.
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