N95 respirator masks have become a sought-after item in recent months as medical workers around the world use them to for protection while treating COVID-19 patients. Behind these masks is a Taiwanese inventor.
Dr. Peter Tsai, a mechanical engineer and material scientist, is credited with inventing the technology needed to produce these masks. Tsai and his team invented the N95 mask 30 years ago.
The “N” in N95 stands for “not resistant to oil”. The “95”, meanwhile, refers to the masks’ ability to block at least 95 percent of 0.3 micron particles, which may include droplets, dust, pollen and air pollution.
Tsai’s invention allows regular masks to filter out ten times more air particles. This fact is essential for frontline medical workers who deal with continuous exposure to viruses.