Caltech Unveils Smart Mask for Real-Time Monitoring of Respiratory and Health Conditions

The California Institute of Technology has introduced a groundbreaking innovation in the form of a smart mask capable of real-time monitoring of chemicals in exhaled breath. This cutting-edge mask, named EBCare, has the potential to revolutionize the way medical conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and post-COVID-19 infections are managed.

EBCare, which stands for exhaled breath condensate, is designed with cost-effectiveness in mind, with each mask estimated to cost around $1 in materials. The mask leverages advanced cooling technology to condense exhaled breath into a liquid form, allowing for the immediate chemical analysis needed to monitor a patient’s health.

“The breath condensate contains soluble gases as well as nonvolatile substances in the form of aerosols or droplets, such as metabolic substances, inflammatory indicators, and pathogens,” explained Wenzheng Heng, the lead author of the study and a graduate student at Caltech.

The team behind EBCare incorporated a passive cooling system using hydrogel evaporative cooling and radiative cooling, enabling efficient breath analysis without the need for external refrigeration. Once the breath has been converted into a liquid state, it is swiftly transported to sensors via bioinspired microfluidic channels, which then wirelessly send the results to a connected device, such as a smartphone or tablet.

The smart mask has shown promise in detecting biomarkers for various conditions, including nitrite levels for airway inflammation in asthma and COPD patients. It has also demonstrated accuracy in measuring blood alcohol levels, suggesting potential applications for on-site sobriety checks. Furthermore, the mask could monitor blood urea levels, which are critical for managing kidney disease.