A collar can purify the air. A particularly important point for people with asthma, allergies or respiratory diseases.
But their breath can also provide information about their health. Enter a California-based research team and its smart mask, which allows patients to diagnose issues at home.
First, exhaled air condenses in the mask through a cooling hydrogel. The liquid is then transported to an integrated sensor for analysis, and the results transmitted to patients’ cell phones or PCs.
High nitrite levels denote respiratory illnesses, while the presence of ammonium suggests reduced kidney function. The mask could even double as a breathalyser.
People affected by asthma can already benefit from smart inhalers; and pulmonary function tests could soon be conducted at home.
