Odisha’s Piyush Agarwal Develops Battery-Operated Masks For Athletes

Odisha’s Piyush Agarwal, an IIT Kharagpur alumnus and owner of startup ‘PQR Technology Private Limited’, has developed battery-operated masks which, he claims, will ensure optimum oxygen for the wearer.

These masks will be put on trial for India’s Olympic-bound athletes to assist in their intense training, reported PTI.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Secretary General Rajeev Mehta informed that the masks will initially be tried on a few athletes. If they have no breathing issues and the IOA Medical Commission gives its approval, the masks will be used by all Olympic-bound athletes.

“I was initially very guarded about resumption of training by athletes, but since the athletes have started training and we don’t know when this pandemic will end, we have to think about the best way possible and this kind of mask which seems safe for intensive training struck us… If the athletes feel comfortable in the trial, we will order 1000 masks initially. We are hoping to give the masks to 10-15 athletes initially for trial. We will start the trial in 10 days,” Mehta was quoted as saying.

The brand name of the mask is ‘Moksha’ and costs Rs 2200 each. “There is no other mask in the world which provides better oxygen intake to the wearer than what we are offering. It will be safe for the athletes to wear these masks and do intensive training also,” said Agarwal.

These masks are fitted with two respiratory valves and a fan on both sides. The valves will have N95 air filters that will protect the athlete from contracting coronavirus.

“A normal human being requires 8 litres of air but an athlete, during training, needs 15-20 litres. These masks will allow maximum oxygen for inhalation and so they should not face any problem,” Agarwal added.

Countering some medical experts’ apprehension that some amount of carbon dioxide may remain inside the masks during exhalation, Agarwal said: “A normal household exhaust fan has around 4000 rpm (revolutions per minute) but the fans in these masks have 8500 rpm, so there is no chance of any carbon dioxide remaining.”