Abstract: There is provided a fit testing method comprising: providing a respirator donned by a wearer; providing a sensor in electrical communication with a sensing element, where the sensor is configured to monitor a particulate concentration parameter of a gas space within the respirator, and a second particulate concentration parameter of a gas space outside the respirator, where the sensor is attached to the respirator such that the respirator such that the weight of the sensor is supported by the respirator; and providing a reader configured to communicate with the sensor, where the reader is configured to provide a respirator fit parameter based on a comparison of the particulate concentration within the respirator to the particulate concentration parameter outside the respirator.

Abstract: A system includes a respirator, a sensor including a sensing element, and a reader configured to be in wireless communication with the sensor. The sensor is positioned substantially within an interior gas space of the respirator.

Abstract: A method for determining personal protective equipment (PPE) comfort for an individual wearer includes defining a first anatomical shape data representative of an anatomical area of the individual wearer prior to donning a PPE, a second anatomical shape data representative of the anatomical area of the individual wearer after donning the PPE, and comparing the first anatomical shape data with the second anatomical shape data. The method further includes determining a soft skin tissue deformation at a plurality of predetermined anatomical positions based on the comparison between the first anatomical shape data and the second anatomical shape data, and determining a displacement comfort threshold (CTd) value based on the soft skin tissue deformation. The method also includes determining a pressure pain threshold (PPT) value, and determining a comfort metric based on the PPT values and the CTd values. The method also includes generating a notification corresponding to the comfort metric.

Abstract: A method of fit testing includes providing a respirator; providing a sensor having a sensing element removably positioned substantially within an interior gas space of the respirator; providing a reader configured to be in wireless communication with the sensor; positioning the respirator over a mouth and a nose of a user while the sensor is positioned substantially within an interior gas space of the respirator; and observing respirator fit assessment data communicated from the sensor to the reader.

Abstract: A sensing element includes a substrate including an electrically non-conductive surface, at least one high surface energy region, and an electrode pair structure disposed on the electrically non-conductive surface. The electrode pair structure includes at least one pair of electrodes having a gap therebetween. At least one of the electrodes is at least partially within the at least one high surface energy region. The sensing element is configured to sense fluid-soluble particulate matter.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a respirator; a sensor operatively coupled to the respirator comprising: an electric circuit configured to determine a change in at least one electrical characteristic of a sensing element, wherein the change in the at least one electrical characteristic is based at least in part on detection of a particulate matter; and a computing device configured to: output for display at least one graphical element in a set of graphical elements; in response to receiving the data that is based at least in part on the change in the at least one electrical characteristic of the sensing element, determine, without counting particles of the particulate matter, whether the fit test was satisfied; and in response to the determination whether the fit test was satisfied, perform at least one operation that is based at least in part on the determination whether the fit test was satisfied.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a respirator configured to be worn by a user; a sensor operatively coupled to the respirator; and a computing device comprising a memory and one or more computer processors, the memory comprising instructions that when executed by the one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to: in response to receiving data from the sensor, determine, during at least one action that is performed by the user and that corresponds to at least one graphical element, that the fit test was not satisfied; determine, based at least in part on particular context data associated with the fit test, at least one remedial recommendation to satisfy the fit test; and output for display the at least one remedial recommendation to satisfy the fit test.

Abstract: A sensing element includes a substrate including an electrically non-conductive surface, at least one high surface energy region, and an electrode pair structure disposed on the electrically non-conductive surface. The electrode pair structure includes at least one pair of electrodes having a gap therebetween. At least one of the electrodes is at least partially within the at least one high surface energy region. The sensing element is configured to sense fluid-soluble particulate matter.

Abstract: There is provided a sensor including a housing, where the housing has an opening configured to receive a sensing element; an electric circuit operably connected to the housing, where the electric circuit is configured to detect at least one electrical characteristic across at least one pair of electrodes positioned on the sensing element; at least one gas-moving element in electrical communication with the electric circuit; and a reader in communication with the electric circuit, where the reader is configured to compare information about a gas volume external to the housing with information about a gas volume within the housing.

Abstract: There is provided a fit testing method comprising: providing a respirator donned by a wearer; providing a sensor in electrical communication with a sensing element, where the sensor is configured to monitor a particulate concentration parameter of a gas space within the respirator, and a second particulate concentration parameter of a gas space outside the respirator, where the sensor is attached to the respirator such that the respirator such that the weight of the sensor is supported by the respirator; and providing a reader configured to communicate with the sensor, where the reader is configured to provide a respirator fit parameter based on a comparison of the particulate concentration within the respirator to the particulate concentration parameter outside the respirator.

Abstract: A method of fit testing includes providing a respirator donned by a wearer, providing an aerosol generator with a known aerosol output parameter, providing an enclosure that is physically supported around the wearer's head, where the aerosol generator delivers aerosol with the known aerosol output parameter that is at least partially contained within the enclosure around wearer's head, providing a sensor in electrical communication with a sensing element, where the sensor is operably connected to the respirator, and where the sensor is configured to monitor a particulate concentration parameter within the respirator, and providing a reader configured to communicate with the sensor, where the reader is configured to provide a respirator fit parameter based on a comparison of the particulate concentration parameter to the known aerosol output parameter.

Abstract: A system includes a respirator, a sensor including a sensing element, and a reader configured to be in wireless communication with the sensor. The sensor is positioned substantially within an interior gas space of the respirator.

Abstract: A method of fit testing includes providing a respirator; providing a sensor having a sensing element removably positioned substantially within an interior gas space of the respirator; providing a reader configured to be in wireless communication with the sensor; positioning the respirator over a mouth and a nose of a user while the sensor is positioned substantially within an interior gas space of the respirator; and observing respirator fit assessment data communicated from the sensor to the reader.

Abstract: There is provided a fit testing method comprising: providing a respirator donned by a wearer; providing a first sensor, where the sensor is configured to monitor a particulate concentration parameter within the respirator, where the first sensor is attached to the respirator such that the weight of the first sensor is supported by the respirator; providing a second sensor configured to monitor a particulate concentration parameter outside the respirator; and providing a reader configured to communicate with the sensor, where the reader is configured to provide a respirator fit parameter based on a comparison of the particulate concentration parameter within the respirator to the particulate concentration parameter outside the respirator.

Abstract: A respiratory device includes a face seal and a unitary body that forms an interface with the face seal and includes a lens and a chassis. The chassis includes at least one port for fluidic connection.

Abstract: A personal safety protective device that includes a lens and a support structure onto which the lens is secured. The lens includes a substrate and a hard-coat layer located on the substrate of the lens. The hard-coat layer has a low surface energy outer surface that is derived from a) an additive that includes at least one of i) a perfluoropolyether urethane that includes hydrolysable silane groups, and ii) an acrylate polymer that includes at least one perfluoropolyether moiety and at least one hydrolysable silane group, and b) a silsesquioxane-based hard-coat composition. The provision of such a lens on a personal safety protective device enables the lens to be durable to abrasion and to be easily cleaned without use of solvents that could shorten the service life of the lens.