The face mask has become a ubiquitous item of clothing during the Covid pandemic, but researchers from Northwestern University have spruced up the humble facemask to introduce various smart features to it.

The project, which has been dubbed the “FaceBit”, is documented in a recent paper, which describes the sensors built into the mask that can monitor things such as the heart rate and respiration rate of the user, as well as how long the mask has been worn and even whether it fits correctly.

This data is then sent to an app that can provide a real-time dashboard to help with health monitoring and alert users to any possible issues.  The sensors are also designed to draw most of their energy from ambient sources to extend the battery life of the device.

“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,” the researchers say. “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.”

Meeting the need

While the device may seem overkill, the researchers suggest that they interviewed a wide range of healthcare workers to understand their mask-related needs.  Foremost among these was to ensure the right fit, with this especially important for those working with patients with viral infections.

Workers typically try and ensure this via a 20-minute “fit test”, which requires them to wear the mask and a clear hood over their head.  Another person then pumps aerosol mists inside the hood until it can be detected by the wearer.  If the wearer can detect the taste of the aerosol before a certain number of pumps that is regarded as a sign that the mask is not correctly sealed.

While the smart mask isn’t designed to completely replace this process, the researchers do believe it can help to better ensure the right fit is deployed in between tests.

“If you wear a mask for 12 hours or longer, sometimes your face can become numb,” the researchers explain. “You might not even realize that your mask is loose because you cannot feel it or you are too burnt out to notice. We can approximate the fit-testing process by measuring mask resistance. If we see a sudden dip in resistance, that indicates a leak has formed, and we can alert the wearer.”

Body signs

The mask is also capable of measuring more than just fit, with various physiological signals recorded that the researchers believe can help wearers to better understand their own bodies.

For instance, the mask might remind people to take a break if the mask records certain physiological responses common with stressful events.  The researchers believe this data could even be used by hospital administrators to better optimize shift and break schedules for workers.

“FaceBit provides a first step toward practical on-face sensing and inference, and provides a sustainable, convenient, comfortable option for general health monitoring for COVID-19 frontline workers and beyond,” the researchers conclude. “We’re really excited to hand this off to the research community to see what they can do with it.”

You can see the mask in action via the video below.