Tracing the Flu Symptom Progression via a Smart Face Mask

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Wearable Technology
• Infectious Disease Monitoring

Background:

• Influenza virus significantly impacts respiration and body temperature, presenting ongoing global health challenges.
• Current methods for monitoring flu symptoms can be inconvenient or lack continuous tracking capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a wireless, all-in-one sensory face mask (WISE mask) for continuous monitoring of body temperature and respiration.
• To integrate Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) for intelligent symptom detection.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a WISE mask using ultrasensitive fibrous temperature sensors.
• Integration of flexible circuitry, deep learning algorithms, and a user-friendly interface.
• Evaluation of the mask's thermosensitivity, breathability, and comfort.

Main Results:

• The WISE mask demonstrated exceptional thermosensitivity, breathability, and wearing comfort.
• The system achieved highly sensitive body temperature and respiratory detection.
• Continuous recognition of respiration and body temperature abnormalities was successfully demonstrated using AI.

Conclusions:

• The WISE mask provides a cost-effective and convenient method for tracing flu symptom progression.
• This technology offers a powerful solution for personalized health monitoring and point-of-care systems.
• The WISE mask addresses public health concerns related to influenza.