Livinguard virus control tech fabric 'can destroy 99.9% traces of COVID-19'; masks coming

After conducting more than 65,000 experiments, Swiss hygiene company Livinguard, which has operations also in India, USA, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and South Africa, has come up with a revolutionary and one-of-a-kind face mask that it claims can inactivate bacteria and viruses, including 99.9 percent traces of COVID-19.

techlogy was invented by Sanjeev Swamy, an entrepreneur of Indian origin, who is also founder and CEO of Livinguard Techlogies. textiles in se masks can continuously inactivate exhaled viruses and help reduce infections even beyond COVID-19 (e.g. tuberculosis, influenza, yellow fever). masks will be tested for Ebola in July.

masks were launched on Wednesday through a virtual press conference.

Speaking from company's Swiss hequarters, Swamy said that as per estimates by World Health Organization, around 89 million masks will be required every month throughout pandemic. "Providing superior quality of daily life has always been our aim. unique characteristics of Livinguard masks will provide users with an unprecedented level of security," Swamy said.

se face masks are currently being produced and sold by several companies in Asia, Europe and  Middle East.  company is going to get masks manufactured in India soon.

He ded, "Livinguard's current focus is to apply this techlogy to lessen health risk and ecomic impact of crisis by enabling people to protect mselves, return to ir rmal lives. Since our masks are washable and reusable, and mostly me from cotton, y eco-friendly and sustainable. Our research shows that if a million people use one Livinguard mask 210 times, we can save 36,000 tonnes of waste. It is also cheaper than a regular mask."

How it works

principle underlying Livinguard Techlogy empowers textile surface with a strong positive charge. Substrate materials such as textiles have ~24 billion charges per square centimeter which like a magnet for viruses and bacteria. When microbes come in contact with fabric, microbial cell is destroyed, eventually destroying microorganism.

Once microbes are destroyed, y fall off or can be washed off. 'Once y occupied on material opens up, charges y attached to are freed. material continues working with this revolutionary kill power of breth (variety of germs), efficacy (number of germs), speed, and durability.' This allows users to reuse mask without compromising on safety or efficacy, explained Swamy.

 Livinguard CEO furr pointed out, "Unlike heavy metal-based solutions, this vel techlogy has been found to be safe for both skin and lungs."

Levels of protection

(Picture credit: Livinguard)

While talking about levels of protection that mask offers, Sanjeev Swamy said, " mask comprises three layers that give five levels of protection. unique patented Tripellent Techlogy on outer layer offers three levels of protection — Livinguard Antiviral and repellent coating on outside fabric, Livinguard Antiviral Techlogy bonded into fabric itself and Livinguard Antiviral and repellent coating on inside of fabric. n-woven industry-standard filters in middle layer channels viruses for destruction to outer or inner layers."

Since it is protected from biological contamination, mask can be safely washed and reused. A Livinguard mask can be washed up to 30 times and can be used for 6 months.

fabric of inner layer, which is treated with Livinguard Antiviral Techlogy, helps inactivate coronavirus, he said. 
masks can be used by frontline COVID warriors and sanitation workers across world, he ded.

Price

masks are available in three versions—street masks, pro masks and ultra masks—and are priced up to Rs 2000. cost is less than Rs 10 per use, and researchers are trying to make m more affordable. masks will soon be available across top e-commerce platforms in country.