A self-sterilizing, face mask, respirator, open or enclosed face shield employs germicidal, far UV-C light safe for direct human exposure, mitigating risk of acquisition or transmission of respiratory pathogens, such as COVID 19. Device attachments or special lenses direct far UV-C light into the respiratory chamber and/or reservoir areas of infection including nasal, oropharyngeal or ocular areas to reduce or eliminate pathogens, serving also as a treatment modality. In a preferred embodiment the face shield has a removable front section, which can be exchanged or replaced with sections that include various functional attributes while maintaining germicidal protections and avoiding need to remove PPE during these activities including consumption of liquids, oral medications or food, as well as providing antimicrobial absorbent sneeze or cough guard or rhinorrhea secretion absorption, or a communication device to address communication deficiencies caused by respiratory protection barriers.

There is provided an apparatus for preparing a ventilation gas mixture that comprises a gas mixing device, a first gas feed arranged to supply a first gas to the gas mixing device, an air inlet configured to receive exhaled air from a person, a gas reservoir arranged to store carbon dioxide from the air received in the air inlet and further arranged to supply the stored carbon dioxide to the gas mixing device via a second gas feed, wherein the gas mixing device is arranged to combine the first gas with the carbon dioxide in order to prepare the ventilation gas mixture.

There is provided an apparatus for preparing a ventilation gas mixture that comprises a gas mixing device, a first gas feed arranged to supply a first gas to the gas mixing device, an air inlet configured to receive exhaled air from a person, a gas reservoir arranged to store carbon dioxide from the air received in the air inlet and further arranged to supply the stored carbon dioxide to the gas mixing device via a second gas feed, wherein the gas mixing device is arranged to combine the first gas with the carbon dioxide in order to prepare the ventilation gas mixture.

According to some embodiments, a protective face mask to protect medical personnel by filtering exhaled air of infectious patients is disclosed. The protective face mask comprises a first layer, a second layer and a third layer. The second layer comprises a molecular sieve desiccant. The molecular sieve desiccant is between 0.1 cm and 10 cm thick.

A cough catching device is an apparatus used to limit the spread of airborne and droplet-transmissible pathogens by providing a sanitary tool to substantially capture a cough or sneeze. The cough catching device utilizes at least one membrane enclosing an internal cavity, wherein an aperture is formed into the membrane in fluid communication with the internal cavity. At least one flexible member is integrated into the membrane to bias the aperture closed over the internal cavity. The flexible member may be manually deformed by a user to expand the aperture, enabling a user to cough or sneeze into the internal cavity to capture any droplets with the membrane.

A cough catching device is an apparatus used to limit the spread of airborne and droplet-transmissible pathogens by providing a sanitary tool to substantially capture a cough or sneeze. The cough catching device utilizes at least one membrane enclosing an internal cavity, wherein an aperture is formed into the membrane in fluid communication with the internal cavity. At least one flexible member is integrated into the membrane to bias the aperture closed over the internal cavity. The flexible member may be manually deformed by a user to expand the aperture, enabling a user to cough or sneeze into the internal cavity to capture any droplets with the membrane.

The invention relates to a textile protective material, in particular providing protection against radioactive harmful and/or toxic substances and/or against biological harmful and/or toxic substances and/or against chemical harmful and/or toxic substances, preferably a textile adsorption filter material, and to a method for the production thereof. The textile protective material is suitable in particular for producing protective equipment and protective objects and filters and filter materials of all types.

The invention relates to a textile protective material, in particular providing protection against radioactive harmful and/or toxic substances and/or against biological harmful and/or toxic substances and/or against chemical harmful and/or toxic substances, preferably a textile adsorption filter material, and to a method for the production thereof. The textile protective material is suitable in particular for producing protective equipment and protective objects and filters and filter materials of all types.

A face mask system is provided that includes a face mask and an indicator. The indicator is arranged with the face mask. The indicator may be configured to indicate the face mask is no longer recommended for use following a first level of exposure of the face mask to ultraviolet light. In addition, or alternatively, the indicator may be configured to change its appearance when a first number of treatment cycles have been performed on the face mask using the ultraviolet light. In addition, or alternatively still, the indicator may be configured to visually indicate a mechanical property of the face mask is preserved following another level of exposure of the face mask to the ultraviolet light.

A face mask system is provided that includes a face mask and an indicator. The indicator is arranged with the face mask. The indicator may be configured to indicate the face mask is no longer recommended for use following a first level of exposure of the face mask to ultraviolet light. In addition, or alternatively, the indicator may be configured to change its appearance when a first number of treatment cycles have been performed on the face mask using the ultraviolet light. In addition, or alternatively still, the indicator may be configured to visually indicate a mechanical property of the face mask is preserved following another level of exposure of the face mask to the ultraviolet light.