N95 mask inventor abandons retirement to aid in pandemic

Reuters Videos
4 年前

Peter Tsai invented the N95 mask 30 years ago which is now one of the most sought after pieces of protective gear for frontline medical workers.

With hospitals across the U.S. facing shortages of mask supplies,

researchers scramble to find a way to safely disinfect N95 for reuse.

Tsai, a material scientist and engineer, came out of retirement and joined research efforts.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DR. PETER TSAI, INVENTOR OF N95 MASK, SAYING:

"I did not expect that this would happen, but this happened, so it comes all of a sudden - so I don't have time to feel something. I just feel obligated to help the industries and to provide information to find a way to sterilize the mask."

In some hospitals, supply is so low that some have reportedly resorted to using soapy water, alcohol or bleach to sterilize their gear.

But experts warn that those decontamination methods are not effective and could, in fact, damage the mask.

Tsai said he is currently looking at whether exposing the masks to high temperatures for a specific period of time could work.