Bengal Girl's Virus-killing Mask, Shortlisted For National Competition

With her innovative idea, a schoolgirl near Burdwan town, Digantika Bose has designed a virus-killing mask. Amid the aggressive COVID- 19 outbreak, Bose had taken part in the Challenge Covid- 19 Competition (C3) – organised by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), a Ministry of Science & Technology initiative – and has recently received recognition for developing ‘Air providing and virus destroying mask.’ Her design has been shortlisted in a national competition.  The mask, if approved, will be used during the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Bose, a class XI student of Vidyasagar Smriti Vidyamandir Branch 2 in Memari, received a communication from Dr Vivek Kumar of NIF saying, “Your submission titled ‘Air providing and virus destroying mask’ has been shortlisted and is being considered for further support,” The Statesman reported. He further asked, “Share your consent or else if you have any question, don’t hesitate to contact NIF.”

Key Takeaways:

• NIF has shortlisted an innovative idea from a schoolgirl, Digantika Bose, who has designed a virus-killing mask.
• Bose took part in the Challenge Covid- 19 Competition (C3) – organised by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – and has recently received recognition for developing ‘Air providing and virus destroying mask.’
• According to Bose, if a COVID-19 patient uses this mask “droplets exhaled will no longer contain the virus.”

It took Bose seven days to develop the design of the Virus Destroying Mask. Her innovation passed had to undergo a series of tests, and the Ministry of Science and Technology has praised the student and now the prototype will be tested against the virus.

NIF has shortlisted her work based on “plan/proposal so the workable product could be taken to the masses”, and Bose said she has agreed to it.

Bose has a keen interest in science. Strengthening technological development in the grassroots using scientific methods is what drove her to invent a life-saving mask. When the schools closed due to the nationwide lockdown, Bose decided to make the most of her free time in developing a solution that would not only help patients but also medical professionals.

“This would kill every virus coming out of a Covid-19 patient during exhalation. This mask is designed not only to protect the human being from Coronavirus infection, but its designed to kill the virus instantly the moment it comes in contact with the mask,” claimed Bose.

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How does this mask work?

Bose explains, “It’s a two-fold mask equipped with two numbers of one-way valves and filters planted in two directions and the valves are linked to two separate chambers.” During inhalation, one of the valves allows filtered air to get access to the lung and the filter kills the virus if it tries to enter through the air.

She further explained,“When a Covid-19 patient exhales, or sneezes, the droplets containing Coronavirus coming out of his lung will pass through the other one-way valve linked to another chamber and get trapped and its lipid protein cover and will be destroyed immediately.”

According to Bose, if a COVID-19 patient uses this mask “droplets exhaled will no longer contain the virus.”

How did the idea come up?

Seventeen-year-old Bose said,“The day the lockdown was announced. I found out that there will be no test. This has been on my mind ever since. I have also done special studies for this. It took seven or eight days. I saw that everyone is walking around wearing ordinary masks. However, it does not prevent the virus, so, I thought to develop something effective,” The Indian Express reported.

She turned her home into a laboratory as the teenager wanted to make something that could help the nation deal with the pandemic. “This mask will work in the coronavirus pandemic in the country. I feel very good. This recognition from the Union Ministry of Technology has given me more encouragement and boost. I am very happy for being able to do something for my country,” Bose said.

After she received recognition for the project, Digantika’s elated father Sudipto Bose told, “I am really feeling proud that my daughter’s idea will help the nation at this critical hour.”

Sudipto Bose is employed in a private school in Memari. Digantika’s mother Shubhra Bose is a Computer Project teacher. Bose was honoured with ‘APJ Abdul Kalam Ignite Award 2017’ by the President of India for her innovative discovery of ‘Dust collecting attachment for drilling machine’ – a pollution control device. Also, she had developed a specially designed mask for the beekeepers in 2016.

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Feature Image credit: The Indian Express

Read More Stories By Ria Das