A method of treating a spinal disk according to the present invention can include inserting an alloplastic bulking agent into the spinal disk to treat the defect. The alloplastic bulking agent has a plurality of microparticles and a suspending agent comprising hyaluronic acid. The bulking agent results in at least one of sealing the defect, increasing a pressure of the disk, increasing a height of the disk, improving stability of the disk and improving structural integrity of the disk.

A face mask to respirator adapter assembly includes a cylinder which has a nose recess integrated into the cylinder. The nose recess accommodates a user’s nose when the cylinder is positioned beneath a face mask when the face mask is being worn. The device includes a cushion that extends around the cylinder and which abuts the user’s face when the cylinder is positioned beneath the face mask to enhance comfort for the user.

Disclosed are adsorbent materials that comprise a porous material having a continuous silica phase coated with a carbon layer, and a water-insoluble precipitate comprising a metal cation and an anion disposed substantially evenly throughout the adsorbent material. In some examples, the plurality of pores can have an average characteristic dimension of from 0.1 Å to 100 Å. The water-insoluble precipitate can be formed in the plurality of pores of the porous material by contacting the porous material with a first aqueous solution comprising a metal cation; and contacting the porous material with a second aqueous solution comprising an anion; wherein the metal cation and the anion combine to form the water-insoluble precipitate in the plurality of pores of the porous material, thereby forming the adsorbent material.

A packaged filtration mask comprising a filtration mask packaged in a container in a vacuum or a partial vacuum, wherein the packaged filtration mask comprises an indicator configured to indicate the presence of a vacuum or a partial vacuum in the container, or configured to indicate the lack of a vacuum or a partial vacuum in the container.

A mask device includes a mask body provided with at least one inlet and at least one outlet located below the inlet, a first air cleaner and a second air cleaner for filtering outside air sucked in from an outside environment and supplying the filtered air through the mask body to the inlet, the first air cleaner coupled to one side of the mask body and the second air cleaner coupled to an other side of the mask body, and a first fixing part and a second fixing part, the first fixing part for coupling the first air cleaner to the mask body and the second fixing part for coupling the second air cleaner to the mask body.

A discharger structure on earloop facemasks includes at least one opening hole on an earloop facemask covered by a cover. The cover is in a streamline shape and has a passage space for airflow. A check valve is disposed in the opening hole at an inner side of the cover, and the cover further has a discharging hole at an opposite side of the check valve, defining an area within the passage space between the check valve and the discharging hole for airflow. Thereby the check valve is closed by a diaphragm when air pressure within the facemask is negative, and the check valve is opened by the diaphragm when air pressure within the facemask is positive, so as to control airflow through the check valve.

A two-part mask, having a nasal portion and an oral portion, can include adhesive to secure the nasal portion to the wearer's face. The adhesive might surround the nose to form a leakproof seal. An oral portion covering the wearer's mouth might include adhesive surrounding the mouth portion. Each mask portion could be worn separately. The nasal portion might be made from a filter material. The portions might be made in part from filter material and in part from transparent material. The transparent material might be positioned to allow for external viewing of the wearer's lip movements. The portions could be customizable to provide an anatomical fit for each individual wearer. The portions might be shaped to form a balloon shape, which can allow for movement of a mask portion from an extended position when the wearer is exhaling to a contracted position when the wearer is inhaling.

Embodiments relate generally to methods and systems for detecting and indicating end-of-service-life in disposable filtration masks. Applicant has proposed incorporating end-of-service-life indicators comprising color changing chemicals into the mask. The indicating chemicals may be incorporated into the nonwoven fabric material of the mask, or may be attached to the nonwoven material of the mask, such as by dipping, spraying, or adhering. The color change of the indicating chemicals may indicate to a user that the use life of the mask has been depleted.

The present invention relates to a composition, textile, and mask for reducing the inhalation of pollutants. The composition includes an aqueous solution of an inorganic iodide compound, a metal phthalocyanine, and a polymeric binder. The inorganic iodide can be cuprous iodide, the metal phthalocyanine can be iron phthalocyanine, and the polymeric binder can be polyvinylpyrrolidone or polyvinyl alcohol. This pollutant-inactivating composition neutralizes pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, volatile organic compounds and other unpleasant airborne agents, without requiring elevated temperatures or bulky canisters containing adsorbents. Optionally, a humectant can also be incorporated into the coating solution to retain moisture in the active filter matrix, which enhances the activity of the composition to inactivate oxidizing gases and other toxic constituents of air pollution.

Various embodiments of a filtering face-piece respirator and a method of forming such respirator are disclosed. The filtering face-piece respirator includes a mask body having a filtering structure and an attachment region disposed on the mask body that includes a connected portion and an aperture disposed in the connected portion. Two or more layers of the filtering structure are connected together to form the connected portion. The filtering face-piece respirator further includes an adjustable strap having a first end and a second end, where the first end of the strap is threaded through the aperture of the attachment region such that the strap is connected to the attachment region. The aperture mechanically retains the strap.