Antimicrobial filtration article

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a filtration article, such as a protective facemask, a method for using a filtration article, and a method for preparing a filtration article. In particular, the invention relates to a protective facemask that cost-effectively offers a broad spectrum of antimicrobial protection through the use of fibers treated with one or more oligodynamic metal and/or salt of an oligodynamic metal.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A filtration article comprising:
 an air permeable filtration layer comprising fibers treated with one or more oligodynamic metal and/or salt of an oligodynamic metal,   an air permeable support layer operatively associated with said filtration layer, said support layer being configured to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer; and   an attachment element to secure said filtration article to the wearer.   
     
     
         14 . The filtration article of  claim 13 , wherein said filtration layer comprises a sufficient concentration of said one or more oligodynamic metal and/or salt of an oligodynamic metal to capture and kill greater than 95% of microbes in a volume of air moving through said filtration layer. 
     
     
         15 . The filtration article of  claim 13 , wherein said filtration layer comprises a sufficient concentration of said one or more oligodynamic metal and/or salt of an oligodynamic metal to capture and kill greater than 96% of microbes in a volume of air moving through said filtration layer. 
     
     
         16 . The filtration article of  claim 13 , wherein said filtration layer comprises a sufficient concentration of said one or more oligodynamic metal and/or salt of an oligodynamic metal to capture and kill greater than 97% of microbes in a volume of air moving through said filtration layer. 
     
     
         17 . The filtration article of  claim 13 , wherein said filtration layer comprises a sufficient concentration of said one or more oligodynamic metal and/or salt of an oligodynamic metal to capture and kill greater than 98% of microbes in a volume of air moving through said filtration layer. 
     
     
         18 . The filtration article of  claim 13 , wherein said filtration layer comprises a sufficient concentration of said one or more oligodynamic metal and/or salt of an oligodynamic metal to capture and kill greater than 99% of microbes in a volume of air moving through said filtration layer. 
     
     
         19 . The filtration article of  claim 13 , wherein said one or more oligodynamic metal is silver, mercury, copper, iron, lead, zinc, bismuth, gold, aluminum, platinum, palladium, iridium, tin, antimony, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The filtration article of  claim 19 , wherein said oligodynamic metal is silver. 
     
     
         21 . The filtration article of  claim 13 , wherein said fibers comprise polyester, polyolefin, polyamide, polypropylene, acrylic, cotton, cellulose, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The filtration article of  claim 13 , wherein said fibers are about 0.3 mm to about 0.7 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         23 . The filtration article of  claim 13 , wherein said fibers are about 0.4 mm to about 0.6 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         24 . The filtration article of  claim 13 , wherein said fibers are about 0.5 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         25 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A filtration article comprising:
 an air permeable filtration layer comprising hydrophilic foam comprising fibers and an oligodynamic metal and/or salt of an oligodynamic metal;   an air permeable support layer operatively associated with said filtration layer, said support layer being configured to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer; and   an attachment element to secure said filtration article to the wearer.   
     
     
         31 . The filtration article of  claim 30 , wherein the concentration of said one or more oligodynamic metal and/or salt of an oligodynamic metal in the filtration layer is between about 50 parts per million to about 5,000 parts per million. 
     
     
         32 . The filtration article of  claim 30 , wherein the concentration of said one or more oligodynamic metal and/or salt of an oligodynamic metal in the filtration layer is between about 100 parts per million to about 2,000 parts per million. 
     
     
         33 . The filtration article of  claim 30 , wherein said one or more oligodynamic metal is silver, mercury, copper, iron, lead, zinc, bismuth, gold, aluminum, platinum, palladium, iridium, tin, antimony, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The filtration article of  claim 33 , wherein said oligodynamic metal is silver. 
     
     
         35 - 68 . (canceled) 
     
     
         69 . A method of preparing a filtration article comprising:
 treating fibers with an oligodynamic metal and/or salt of an oligodynamic metal comprising silver or silver chloride;   incorporating said fibers into an air permeable filtration layer comprising hydrophilic foam, wherein the concentration of said fibers in said filtration layer is between about 100 parts per million to about 2,000 parts per million and said fibers are about 0.5 mm in diameter; and   operatively associating said filtration layer with an air permeable support layer and an attachment element, said support layer being configured to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer and said attachment element configured to secure said filtration article to the wearer.   
     
     
         70 . (canceled)