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: Example systems are described in which a personal protective equipment (PPE) respirator device includes one or more sensor arranged within the PPE to detect exhalation breath temperature of a user, and a computing device configured to generate, based on the detected exhalation breath temperature, a metric indicative of core body temperature of the user wearing the PPE.

Abstract: A ring-shaped cushion for a hearing protector or audio headset. The cushion has a circumferential contact pad for sealing on a wearer's head and an attachment for sealing with an earmuff. The cushion further has a sound insulation tube that inwardly defines an inner space. The sound insulation tube extends between the contact pad and the attachment. The cushion has a ventilation passage that extends entirely through the cushion between an inlet opening in the contact pad and an area outside of the inner space. The cushion may further include one or more physiological sensors to monitor the health of a wearer.

Abstract: There is provided a computing device comprising: at least one processor; and a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive first sensor data indicative of a gas characteristic in a sealed space formed by a face of a wearer and a negative pressure reusable respirator; receive second sensor data indicative of a position of at least one valve in the negative pressure reusable respirator; determine comparative data by comparing the first sensor data to the second sensor data; and perform one or more actions in response to the comparative data. There is also provided a system using such computing device.

Abstract: A system includes a negative pressure reusable respirator configured to be worn by a worker and to cover at least a mouth and a nose of the worker, a sensor configured to generate sensor data indicative of a characteristic of air within a work environment, and at least one computing device. The negative pressure reusable respirator includes at least one contaminant capture device configured to remove contaminants from air as the air is drawn through the contaminant capture device when the worker inhales. The at least one contaminant capture device is configured to be removable from the negative pressure reusable respirator. The at least one computing device configured to determine whether the at least one contaminant capture device is due for replacement, and perform one or more actions in response to determining the at least one contaminant capture device is due for replacement.

Abstract: There is provided a computing device comprising: at least one processor; and a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive data indicative of a gas characteristic in a sealed space formed by a face of the wearer and a negative pressure reusable respirator; determine performance of a respirator seal check by the wearer; determine that the negative pressure reusable respirator is being worn by a wearer; perform one or more actions in response to determining that the respirator is being worn by the wearer and the wearer has not performed a respirator seal check that satisfies one or more safety rules; and alter the one or more actions in response to determining that the negative pressure reusable respirator is being worn by the wearer and the wearer has performed a respirator seal check that satisfies one or more safety rules. There is also provided a system using such computing device.

Abstract: An article includes a solid circuit die on a first major surface of a substrate, wherein the solid circuit die includes an arrangement of contact pads, and wherein at least a portion of the contact pads in the arrangement of contact pads are at least partially exposed on the first major surface of the substrate to provide an arrangement of exposed contact pads; a guide layer including an arrangement of microchannels, wherein the guide layer contacts the first major surface of the substrate such that at least some microchannels in the arrangement of microchannels overlie the at least some exposed contact pads in the arrangement of exposed contact pads; and a conductive particle-containing liquid in at least some of the microchannels. Other articles and methods of manufacturing the articles are described.

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: A ring-shaped cushion for a hearing protector or audio headset. The cushion has a circumferential contact pad for sealing on a wearer's head and an attachment for sealing with an earmuff. The cushion further has a sound insulation tube that inwardly defines an inner space. The sound insulation tube extends between the contact pad and the attachment. The cushion has a ventilation passage that extends entirely through the cushion between an inlet opening in the contact pad and an area outside of the inner space. The cushion may further include one or more physiological sensors to monitor the health of a wearer.

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: 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.