The best face mask for coronavirus? New Zealand unveils new US$350 double-filtered Atmos mask that looks like a pair of sci-fi goggles – here’s how it works
Venture capital had already funded AO Air’s development of the Atmos mask – Covid-19 has brought new impetus and more investment to add an additional virus filter
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, scientists and designers have come up with unique protective solutions beyond those omnipresent N95 masks – that block out 95 per cent of airborne particulates.
The Atmos mask from AO Air in New Zealand is one such design, worn as a clear band around the mouth and nose, using filters and a fan to circulate purified air.
AO Air raised over US$1.8 million in funding from venture capital fund Blackbird Ventures, Oregon Sports Angels and the New Zealand Government. The mask was originally designed with air pollution in mind and was released in limited numbers in January of 2020.
Since then, Covid-19 has increased demand for masks around the world, and the New Zealand Government’s grant will go toward developing a special antiviral filter for the mask. The filtration technology currently used in the mask was determined to offer “25 times better protection against airborne particulate matter than the standard N95 mask” by the Auckland University of Technology, but wasn’t originally focused on airborne pathogens.
Here's how it works:
The Atmos mask was designed to supplant the standard N95 mask
The double filtered mask was originally designed for wearing in heavily polluted air. A prefilter removes large particulates, then the nanofilter removes pollen, dust and other particles from the air. The price for this level of protection? Around US$350 – though that’s for a mask you can use again and again, just changing the filters as needed.