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Biomask named finalist for Chicago Innovation Awards

15 Sep '12

2 min read

Medline Industries Inc's BioMask, the first-ever FDA cleared antiviral medical face mask, is one of the top finalists for the prestigious 2012 Chicago Innovation Awards reflecting a cross section of the Chicago and surrounding regions' business communities. The final ten winners will be announced Monday, October 22.

The Chicago Innovation Awards, celebrating its 11th year, is the only organization in the country dedicated to honoring the most innovative new products or services brought to market or to public service from a specific region. This year almost 400 nominations were received.

Medline's BioMask marks the first true innovation in face masks in several decades. Traditional face masks act only as an air filter and do nothing to neutralize the harmful pathogens that remain active on the mask itself. In addition to filtering the air, BioMask is shown to inactivate 99.99 percent of laboratory tested flu viruses, including pandemic and seasonal strains of influenza (flu) viruses, such as H1N1, Bird flu and Swine flu that land on or reside on both the outer or inner surfaces of the mask.

The BioMask works by using a combination of citric acid, zinc and copper — all powerful but safe ingredients. A hydrophilic coating on the outside quickly wicks droplets into and away from the outer surface. Viruses are inactivated on this outer layer by exposure to citric acid, which creates a low pH environment. The droplet then lands on the mask's inner blue layer where influenza viruses are inactivated by copper and zinc, which are toxic to pathogens.

"The most important message of the Chicago Innovation Awards is one of confidence and courage," said Thomas D. Kuczmarski, co-founder with Chicago journalist Dan Miller of the awards.

"The economy is challenging but each nominee believes the simple truth that a powerful new product or service will find a rewarding market and has the courage to pursue their vision."

This year 13 judges, representing a range of Chicago's business community, will be involved in an exhaustive and complex judging process to select the final ten winners of the Chicago Innovation Awards as well as ten "Up &Comer" award winners for smaller organizations still in the start-up phases of their innovations.

Medline Industries Inc