UNS — Faculty of Engineering (FT) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta never stopped creating innovation during the Covid-19 pandemic. The faculty’s recent innovation is the aerator mask that prevents hypoxia in athletes with disabilities. Hypoxia is the condition of low oxygen levels in cells and tissues that cause organs malfunction.
The aerator mask is created by Technology and Non-Metal Material Processing Research Group FT UNS led by Dr. Wijang Wisnu Raharjo and Prof. Kuncoro Diharjo, Prof. Dody Ariawan, Dr. Wahyu Purwo Raharjo, and Bambang Kusharjanta, S.T., M.T., as members.
As reported in ft.uns.ac.id on Friday (16/7/2021), Dr. Wijang Wisnu Raharjo mentioned in the official release that the idea to create an aerator mask came out when they are aware that athletes with disabilities still trained using face masks amid the pandemic.
“In training, athletes must wear a mask. Their masks are sport masks that help them breathe easily while preventing pollutants from entering the nose and mouth,” Dr. Wijang Wisnu Raharjo explained.
However, he mentioned that the span of time when athletes wear the mask might cause problems for them during their training because it lowers their breathing capacity.
“Long period of wearing masks also causes discomfort and breathing secretion at the same time; additionally, poor air circulation might cause hypoxia,” he added.
Dr. Wijang Wisnu Raharjo explained that his Research Group designed an aerator mask to ensure oxygen supply for athletes with disabilities during their training. The aerator mask is equipped with a connector to a high-performance filter system that can be used for a long time and is safer for athletes with disabilities during training.
“The strength of the aerator mask is it provides sufficient oxygen supply. Thus, every breath is maintained. It is comfortable to wear because the circulation is maintained,” Dr. Wijang Wisnu Raharjo explained. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti