Harber Philip, Su Jing, Badilla Alejandro D, Rahimian Rombod, Lansey Kirsten R
a Community, Environment, and Policy Division, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona.
J Occup Environ Hyg. 2015;12(6):369-75. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2015.1006636.
Infrared imaging (IRI) can detect airflow through and near respirator masks based upon temperature differences between ambient and exhaled air. This study investigated the potential usefulness of IRI for detecting leaks and providing insight into the sites and significance of leaks. Subjects (n = 165) used filtering facepiece N95 respirators (N95 FFR) in the course of a research study concerning training modalities. Short sequence video infrared images were obtained during use and with intentionally introduced facial seal leaks. Fit factor (FF) was measured with condensation nuclei count methods. IRI detected leaks were scored on a four-point scale and summarized as the Total Leak Score (TLS) over six coding regions and the presence or absence of a "Big Leak" (BL) in any location. A semi-automated interpretation algorithm was also developed. IRI detected leaks are particularly common in the nasal region, but these are of limited significance. IR imaging could effectively identify many large leaks. The TLS was related to FF. Although IRI scores were related to FF, the relationship is insufficiently close for IRI to substitute for quantitative fit-testing. Using FFRs infrared techniques have potential for identifying situations with very inadequate respiratory protection.
红外成像（IRI）能够基于环境空气与呼出空气之间的温差检测通过呼吸器面罩及面罩附近的气流。本研究调查了IRI在检测泄漏以及深入了解泄漏部位和泄漏重要性方面的潜在用途。在一项关于培训方式的研究过程中，165名受试者使用了过滤式面罩N95呼吸器（N95 FFR）。在使用过程中以及故意制造面部密封泄漏的情况下获取了短序列视频红外图像。采用凝聚核计数法测量适配系数（FF）。对IRI检测到的泄漏按四分制评分，并总结为六个编码区域的总泄漏分数（TLS）以及任何位置是否存在“大泄漏”（BL）。还开发了一种半自动解释算法。IRI检测到的泄漏在鼻部区域尤为常见，但这些泄漏的重要性有限。红外成像能够有效识别许多大泄漏。TLS与FF相关。虽然IRI分数与FF相关，但这种关系不够紧密，以至于IRI无法替代定量适配测试。利用FFR，红外技术有潜力识别呼吸防护非常不足的情况。
