Biodegradable Smart Face Mask for Cough Acoustic Sensing

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Pulmonary diagnostics often rely on subjective acoustic assessments.
• Existing smart masks may not be environmentally sustainable.
• There is a need for eco-friendly, passive sensing technologies for respiratory health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Green Cough Sense, a biodegradable, battery-free smart face mask for sensing cough acoustics.
• To develop a sustainable manufacturing process for passive acoustic sensors.
• To validate the performance and biodegradability of the smart mask.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a 3x3 array of drum-like membranes with a patch antenna using biodegradable materials (cellulose acetate, PLA, zinc).
• Integration of a passive microphone transducing acoustic vibrations into electromagnetic reflection coefficient shifts (|S11|).
• Measurement using a vector network analyzer and validation through in vitro and in situ human participant testing.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated absolute sensitivity of 0.045 μm/Hz and 0.13%/Pa under monotone excitation.
• Successfully detected mild, moderate, and severe cough events in human participants.
• Achieved over 90% weight loss after 100 days of industrial composting, confirming biodegradability.

Conclusions:

• Green Cough Sense is a viable, eco-friendly smart mask for acoustic cough monitoring in pulmonology.
• The developed green manufacturing process enables sustainable production of passive acoustic sensors.
• The device supports a zero-waste strategy for respiratory health diagnostics.