Anthropologists from Masaryk University will help develop respirators for children

Anthropologists from Masaryk University (MU) offered assistance to experts from the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics of the Czech Technical University (CIIRC CTU), who have developed and certified prototypes of the new protective mask “CIIRC RP95-3D”, with the highest safety level of FFP3. Experts from the Masaryk University have extensive databases with 3D face images available and can therefore help with development of masks for children with face proportions other than adults, when the majority of masks and respirators do not fit them.

Researchers from Department of Anthropology at the Masaryk University came up with the offer of cooperation earlier this week and now its’ specific form is being discussed. “We are currently providing colleagues with virtual models of average children’s faces in age categories from four to ten years,” said Petra Urbanová, Director of the Institute of Anthropology.

According to CIIRC CTU technicians, the offer of cooperation came at the right time. “We are currently being contacted by a number of parents from the Czech Republic and abroad with seriously ill children, often diagnosed with cancer. Their parents are very concerned about their childrens’ health and are looking for the best way to protect them. Right now we are not able to help them effectively, but thanks to experts from Masaryk University we can start working on the development of protective half-masks for children, ”said Eva Doležalová from CIIRC ČVUT.

“We are currently providing colleagues with virtual models of average children’s faces in age categories from four to ten years.”

Petra Urbanová, Director of the Institute of Anthropology

Protective half-mask with replaceable external filters is being developed by specialists from CIIRC CTU in cooperation with start-up company TRIX Connections on special 3D printers. The mask can be used repeatedly and at the same time, the possibility to start the production of mass-produced plastic injection technology is being worked on. “We are aware of the need to think of our youngest fellow citizens. We want to focus on the development of half-masks as soon as we prepare everything for mass production on injection molding machines. It is important for us,” added Vít Dočkal, member of the CIIRC CTU research team.

A facial database is being developed at Masaryk University to research algorithms that can help, for example, criminalists with identification of people or doctors with better recognition of growth changes and thus better operation planning. “We have about 3,000 face images of different people, of which about a thousand are children. The volume of data collected allows us to calculate the average face of a given age category, ”added Petra Urbanová. Details about the face database can be found at https://www.fidentis.cz/.