Estonian EdTech Respiray’s wearable air purifier device helps protect teachers from bacteria and viruses

June 28, 2021

Estonian EdTech Respiray’s wearable air purifier enables teachers and educators to remain protected from viruses and bacteria in school classrooms. This level of UV-C protection means schools can remain open during potential rises in COVID-19 infections.

Estonian EdTech Respiray’s wearable air purifier device helps protect teachers from bacteria and viruses

Countries worldwide responded to teaching during the pandemic via remote learning. Still, despite the herculean and heroic efforts performed by schools and their teachers, distance learning proved challenging and inadequate for 21st-century schooling.

Indrek Reimand at the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research commented that the Ministry is delighted to endorse innovation, and turned to its famed tech sector to innovate and provide a solution to the challenge. One such company that is innovating in the Estonian EdTech sector was Respiray.

“Respiray provides a fantastic example of how the collaboration between engineers, scientists, designers and entrepreneurs drives creative solutions for complex issues. The mixture of instrumental vehicles include vaccines, medicines, social distancing and air purifiers, that are engineered by Respiray’s product development team.”

Respiray was born in spring 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world. It began when the company believed that office workers, schoolteachers, and retail staff could upgrade the ordinary face mask for the 21st century using UV technology. Respiray’s engineer believed that as UV-C LED technology has been proven to be highly effective against viruses, it could build a next-generation wearable air purifier.

Respiray’s team began working on a high-tech face mask alternative that eliminates the need to cover a face or restrict breathing. Central to this concept was that people could protect themselves while still talking and showing their facial expressions as normal – crucial when communicating and teaching with students.

Picture credit_ Rocca Al Mare school teacher Maris (1)

Why is Respiray good for teachers?

The closure of schools is harming school children as they begin to fall behind academically. Furthermore, schools are a place to socialise and develop friendships and boost children’s emotional wellbeing.

Schools must remain open to continue the development of today’s children.

If teachers, or those they come into contact with contract COVID-19, they will need to self-isolate for 10 days. Entire classrooms and school departments also have to close, meaning their studies are further impacted. All must return to distance learning until the quarantine period ends.

Respiray designed their wearable air purifier with teachers in mind – to safeguard their health and simultaneously play a vital role in child development, so schools, nurseries and kindergartens can remain open.

How does Respiray’s technology work?

Estonian EdTech Respiray’s wearable UV air purifier creates a clean air zone around the wearer’s face. It’s a non-medical grade alternative to traditional face masks, sitting around a wearer’s shoulders. The wearable air purifier keeps the face and the mouth of the wearer clear to talk and smile freely.

The air purifier takes in unfiltered air, runs it through the UV disinfection module, and blows it to the front of the wearer’s face. The module purifies over 99% of breathable air. Respiray also has attachable face shields that provide additional protection in crowded areas like school classrooms.

UV-C light is a reliable and effective way to eliminate bacteria, viruses and other harmful pathogens. Its germicidal properties have been used for over 100 years, but this is the first time it’s been built into a wearable air purifier.

The patent-pending UV-C disinfection module has been tested in the University of Lodz and the University of Tartu, where it achieved over 99% efficiency.

Both the Estonian government and schools are safeguarding teachers health

So effective is Respiray’s technology that the Estonian Ministry of Education and several Estonian schools are piloting the devices in preparation for the new school term in September. During the current rollout, teachers have been able to smile again and their feedback has been overwhelmingly positive!

The Estonian Ministry of Education was particularly concerned with providing the devices to schools that cater for children with special educational needs.

Both the Ministry and schools are aware that once children return to school, there is a higher chance of COVID-19 infection rates increasing. By purchasing wearable air purifiers for teachers now, the schools aim to head off possible future lockdowns and keep schools open.

Picture_ Tallinn Secondary School of Science Teachers (Estonian_ Tallinna Reaalkool)

More about Respiray

Respiray is an Estonian technology company established to transform how we fight against harmful viruses and bacteria by using cutting-edge UV technology. Respiray emerged from the research and development company, Ldiamon, which has 15 years of expertise developing and manufacturing medical UV-C LED sensors for leading medical companies across Europe.

You can learn more about EdTech here: https://global-edtech.com/edtech-definitions-products-and-trends/