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|Articles|May 16, 2011

Nexera Medical's Surgical N95 Respirator Mask Features Embedded Antibacterial Performance

Sciessent LLC, creator of ionic silver-based antimicrobial brands Agion® and Agion Active, announces the U.S. release of the Nexera Medical SpectraShieldTM model 9500 Surgical Respirator Mask using Foss Manufacturings FOSSHIELD® fibers treated with Agion antimicrobial technology. The mask recently received FDA 510(k) and NIOSH clearance, making it the first surgical respirator mask with embedded antibacterial performance to achieve FDA clearance in the United States.

"Considered the model for the next generation respirator mask, the SpectraShield 9500 surgical respirator is equivalent to a N95 (NIOSH rating)," says Paul Sallarulo, CEO of Nexera Medical. "The SpectraShield 9500 surgical respirator mask begins to eliminate certain strains of bacteria immediately on contact. This is the first mask treated with both AgIon and FOSSHIELD technology to receive FDA and NIOSH approval, and were excited to introduce it to the U.S. market."

Sciessent's customized Agion branded antimicrobial solutions incorporate silver ions in a zeolite carrier. The silver ions exchange with other positive ions (often sodium) from the moisture in the environment, effecting a release of silver "on demand." Depending on the microorganism, Agion antimicrobial technology has been shown to initially reduce microbial populate ions within minutes to hours while maintaining optimal performance for years. FOSSHIELD® incorporates Agion antimicrobial technology in a fiber system to deliver effective protection from microbes for the life of the product. The fiber can be blended into almost any fabric from cotton to nylon without changing its characteristics.

"Independent testing in the United States and Europe has shown the masks ability to kill 99.99 percent of tested bacteria on the surface of the mask within an hour including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus pyogenes and Haemophilus influenza," says Paul Ford, CEO of Sciessent. "Sciessent has been steadily expanding our Agion technology into the medical device market, and were proud to partner on this innovative product with Foss and Nexera."

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