The Latest Weapon in the COVID-19 Battle – The A.I.R. Solo™ Virus Killing UV-Light Face Mask

After its exceptional recent debut, Oracle Lighting, an innovator in LED lighting solutions, is now taking orders for its latest innovation: The A.I.R. Solo™ (Antimicrobial Irradiation Respirator). The wearable UVGI face mask is designed to be worn under common face masks in order to protect both users and those around them, killing live viruses such as Coronavirus, pathogens, bacterium, or other microorganisms attached to the fabric’s surface.

“We are all familiar with the CDC statement ‘Your mask protects me; my mask protects you’,” said Troy Organo, co-inventor of the product. “The A.I.R. Solo provides protection against viruses for both the user and others. High-risk individuals cannot simply rely on others to respect their health safety. The Solo provides benefits to the user while also sanitizing outgoing air to protect others. While this product is beneficial for high-risk individuals, it is for anyone going into a higher-risk environment such as public transportation, flying, or even for simply going to the grocery store.”

Ideal for both consumers and professionals alike, the A.I.R. Solo is the extra layer of protection that can help mitigate exposure to COVID-19 and other viruses as the country begins to re-open. The A.I.R. Solo has been designed and engineered in the USA and will begin shipping in July 2020 with a special pre-order introductory price of only $99.95 USD.

“N95 masks have been the go-to PPE for preventing exposure to COVID-19, but these only filter 95 percent of particulate,” explained Justin Hartenstein, Oracle Lighting director of product development. “Consumers need better assurance to be confident that they will not be exposed. A.I.R. Solo is your personal virus protector by neutralizing that remaining five percent not filtered by an N95 mask while sanitizing the contaminated mask at the same time.”

This device also benefits those who wear cloth face coverings, according to Hartenstein. “Studies have shown that respiratory pathogens on the outer surface of cloth masks can actually result in self-contamination, which is exactly what they are intended to prevent,” he said. “Because of this, we see the unique UV irradiation benefits of A.I.R. Solo as the best sanitization scenario for helping to mitigate exposure to COVID-19 and other viruses.”

Existing personal air filtration masks are designed to prevent inhalation of viruses by trapping the particles from the incoming air in the cloth material worn on the face. However, they are not designed to disinfect or neutralize these particles. Because of this, the masks can become saturated with live viruses, pathogens, bacterium, or other microorganisms attached to the fabric surfaces. Because the cloth mask becomes contaminated with use, washing a cloth mask is recommended by health officials. Unfortunately, most consumer-grade laundry detergents do not contain disinfectant; in fact, studies show that pathogens can actually be spread in the wash and can contaminate other laundry in the load.

A.I.R. Solo is worn under any common face mask and utilizes a patent-pending system to sanitize the air while simultaneously neutralizing contaminants trapped in the cloth face mask by means of short-wave ultraviolet light exposure. The ultraviolet light source is produced via UV LEDs which are integrated into the device. The spectrum of ultraviolet light is separated into various ranges, with shortest-wavelength referred to as UV-C which is considered “germicidal UV”.

“A.I.R. Solo is composed of a small cover made of an anti-microbial silicone which is worn on the face and attached with straps similar to a traditional face mask,” Hartenstein continued. “The user wears a traditional face mask (cloth mask, surgical mask, N95, etc.) over the device. A small rechargeable battery pack powers the device and can be manually turned on and off by the user. In addition to the anti-germicidal LEDs, the device also contains UV-A LEDs which provide a wider light spectrum and visible light. The visible UV-A LED functions as an indicator that the device is on and working but provides minimal anti-microbial benefits.”

Wavelengths between 200-300 nanometers, such as the UV-C LEDs integrated into the A.I.R. Solo provide the most effective germicidal function. This is because the wavelength of UV-C irradiation utilizes photons to inactivate the virus which prevents the cell from replicating and infecting the body if inhaled. The A.I.R. Solo’s UV-C LED emitters are integrated into the airflow partition of the device which is designed to scrub the air and sterilize the cloth mask simultaneously.

Research has shown effectiveness of UV-C LEDs against Coronavirus. A recent study by Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc. (SETi) has demonstrated 99.9 percent effectiveness against COVID-19 and determined that COVID becomes even more sterile when placed closer to the UV-C source. The A.I.R. Solo is designed to channel the incoming air within 5mm of the UV-C source providing increased effectiveness and sterilization.

Is it safe?

For years hospitals and labs have used ultraviolet light for disinfection and medical sanitation against viruses. Commonly known as “Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation,” UVGI is a disinfection method that uses short-wavelength ultraviolet light to kill or inactivate microorganisms by disrupting their DNA in a manner which renders the cells inactive and unable to perform cellular functions. Testing has shown that no measurable amount of UV-C light is directed towards the user wearing the device.

“UV-C light has been used in many applications such as the purification of drinking water for decades,” said Hartenstein. “While UV-C is part of the normal spectrum of sunlight, it is invisible and can cause sunburn with direct skin exposure. This was taken into account when developing the A.I.R. Solo, and the UV light is outward and away from the user to prevent any direct skin exposure. Testing has shown that no measurable amount of UV-C light is directed towards the user wearing the device.”

Additional A.I.R. Device models are scheduled to be released in 2021