Israeli Scientists Submit Patent For Self-Disinfecting, Reusable Mask

A group of Israeli scientists submitted a US patent for a reusable, self-disinfecting protective face mask developed at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.

The product was created by Professor Yair Ein-Eli, dean of the Technion’s Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, who developed a reusable face mask that can be disinfected in a controlled manner using heat – a process that destroys any pathogens accumulated on the mask and renders it reusable.

The technology is based on an inner layer of carbon fibers spread homogenously within the mask. The disinfection process occurs when this layer is heated using a low current source, such as an electric mobile phone charger, the Technion explained in a statement.

Professor Ein-Eli’s research group created the mask prototype and tested it together with Professor Debbie Lindell and Prof. Oded Beja from the Faculty of Biology.

A patent for the tech was submitted in the US in late March and the group is currently in talks with industrial companies for the commercialization of the mask, according to the university.