An Innovative Sensorized Face Mask for Early Detection of Physiological Changes Associated with Viral Infection.

A sensorized face mask could be a useful tool in the case of a viral pandemic event, as well as the Covid-19 emergency. In the context of the proposed project "RESPIRE", we have developed a "Smart-Mask" able to collect the signal patterns of body temperature, respiration, and symptoms such as cough, through a set of textile sensors. The signals have been analyzed by Artificial Intelligence algorithms in order to compare them with gold standard measurements, and to recognize the physiological changes associated with a viral infection. This low-cost prototype of a smart face mask is a reliable tool for the estimation of the individual physiological parameters. Moreover, it enables both personal protection and the early and rapid identification and tracking of potentially infected individuals.