Other

Integrated Pharma Services, LLC

Mina Izadjoo

Jeffry B Skiba

Hosan Kim

Parviz Izadjoo

The present invention relates to improved protective pleated facial masks or respirators that comprise a pleating spacer that is adapted to enter into, and stably separate the folds of one or more of pleats of a pre-pleated mask or respirator filter, or a pre-pleated filter layer thereof. The present invention also relates to improved protective pleated facial masks or respirators that comprise a pleating spacer that is adapted to stably form one or more pleats in an initially unpleated filter of a facial mask or respirator, or a filter layer thereof. The pleating spacers of the present invention thus act to increase the effective surface area of the filters of such masks or respirators, and thereby improve airflow while preserving the ability of the mask or respirator to protect the wearer from hazardous agents. The invention also pertains to such pleating spacers, and particularly pertains to the use of such pleated facial masks or respirators to protect the wearer from particulates such as dust or other airborne debris, chemical agents, and/or biological agents (e.g., bacteria, fungi, and viruses) from air being inhaled or exhaled by the wearer.

Pleating spacer and its use to provide improved facial masks and respirators

Systems and methods for growing microbes and biofilms on a hydrogel in a controlled environment. The system can have a cup, and a liner with the liner inserted into the cup and a hydrogel inserted into the liner. The cup, liner, and hydrogel assembly can be placed into a containment tray. The hydrogel can be sterilized before being placed into the containment tray. A lid can seal the cup, liner, and hydrogel into the containment tray. A lid can have inoculations ports, or can be made out of a self-sealable material keeping the inside environment sterilized and free of contaminants. The hydrogel can be inoculated with microbes through the inoculations ports, and incubated for a period of time at a set temperature to allow the microbes, and biofilms time to grow. After being grown the microbes and biofilms can be separated from each other allowing for both microbes and biofilm to be separately tested.

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Rockville, MD, United States of America

Mina Izadjoo