There aren't many options on Amazon right now, but we did find one from the manufacturer ETEERNVITY, which ships from China. That means governmental health agencies haven't evaluated the effectiveness of these devices, so you'll be buying at your own risk. Unlike N95 and KN95 masks, the CDC doesn't maintain a list of approved mask braces. "This data suggests that although the brace does not create an N95 equivalent in terms of filtration, it would offer improved protection from airborne viruses when worn with a basic surgical mask," the scientists wrote. In quantitative fit tests, using machinery designed to certify N95 mask fit, the researchers discovered that 45 percent, 100 percent, and 100 percent of the 11 subjects passed the fit test when the brace was anchored behind people's ears, with a paperclip, and on a face shield, respectively. Similarly, the University of Iowa study, published in December 2020 in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open, shows mask braces increase the effectiveness of masks. "In most cases, you'll be as good or better as you were without the mask brace." "As long as you're pushing the mask closer to your face, and you're not creating any new gaps that didn't exist before, will generally fit better," Rothamer says. Image courtesy of David Rothamer/University of Wisconsin-Madison Mask braces, the researchers say, "can substantially reduce aerosol emission when fit properly." The paper shows most masks don't meet their peak filtration efficiency because they don't fit a user's face. Rothamer contributed to the University of Wisconsin-Madison preprint (that means the work has not yet been peer-reviewed), which published to the MedRxiv server in January. And they all came to a similar conclusion: they work. What Does the Science Say?Ī few universities-including the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of North Carolina, and the University of Iowa-have produced white papers testing the effectiveness of mask braces. If it's significantly easier to breathe, or if you can feel more air escaping from the sides than when you placed your fingers over the mask in a triangle shape, you'll benefit from a better seal and should consider using a mask brace. KN95 Masks: What’s the Difference?Ĭompare this experience to regularly breathing through your mask. What Is the Best Face Mask for Omicron?.This will create a seal and stimulate what a mask fitter feels like. When your mask brace fits correctly, you should be able to create higher pressure levels inside your mask as you exhale (relative to the surrounding environment) causing the mask to expand outward, just like blowing into a balloon, Rothamer says.Ĭonduct this quick experiment to compare the seal of your mask with or without a brace: "Hold the mask up and to use your pointer fingers and thumbs to make a triangle, and see if is comfortable to breathe through," Rothamer advises. Donald Dumford says in a Cleveland Clinic blog post.Īnd just because your mask doesn't have lipstick stains on it, that doesn't mean you should keep wearing the same mask for days on end. However, "no studies have looked at mask brackets and how they affect the transmission of the coronavirus or other infectious agents," Dr. In fact, they actually seem to promise the opposite. NineLife reserves the right to alter and enforce this Return and Refund Policy at any time without having to serve a prior notice to users.These brackets don't claim to create a better seal for your mask.If your refund is approved, then it will automatically be credited to the original method of payment, within 7-10 days.The refund will not include the import duties or the cost of delivery or return postage.Due to the nature of the products that we sell, we will not be able to replace or refund unwanted items if they have been opened or any seals are broken.If the order has already been dispatched, cancellation fees might be charged. Orders can be cancelled before dispatch.All packaging material must be undamaged and unused with the price tags intact. To be eligible for return, products must be in the exact condition you received them in.To return or exchange any items, please email us clearly mentioning your order number and our customer support team will guide you on the process.Return or exchange requests can be made within 14 days of the delivery date.
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