WAKEFIELD, Mass. — April 25, 2011 — Sciessent LLC, creator of ionic silver-based antimicrobial
brands Agion® and Agion Active™, is pleased to announce the U.S. release of the Nexera Medical
SpectraShield™ model 9500 Surgical Respirator Mask using Foss Manufacturing’s 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),” explains 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 we’re 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 mask’s ability to kill
99.99% of tested bacteria on the surface of the mask within an hour including Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus pyogenes and Haemophilus influenza,” said Paul Ford,
CEO of Sciessent. “Sciessent has been steadily expanding our Agion technology into the medical
device market, and we’re proud to partner on this innovative product with Foss and Nexera.”
Posted on May 3, 2011
Source: Sciessent LLC
