TEXTILES.ORG
Five professors at North Carolina State University (NC State) have filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for new mosquito bite-resistant garments. Andre J. West, Marian G. McCord, Charles S. Apperson, Richard Michael Roe, and Emiel A. DenHartog, the inventors, have created an insect-proof, form-fitting undergarment of superfine, knitted fabric. The garments’ top and bottom parts, made of breathable material with omni-directional stretch properties, may be securely joined at the waist to prevent insect entry. The garment is described as being able to function favorably for outdoor activities and for military use.
Mosquitoes are able to transmit dangerous diseases such as malaria and the Zika virus, making mosquito-resistant garments an important asset for individuals who spend time outside and in areas with large numbers of mosquitoes. According to the application, “Prior-art protective undergarments do not prevent mosquito bites. There remains a need for improved undergarments that overcome these deficiencies.”
West is a professor of fashion and textile design at NC State. DenHartog is an Associate Professor in the Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science Department at Wilson College of Textiles at NC State. He previously worked at the Individual Protection Directorate of Natick Soldier Center, a U.S. Army lab that performs research and development on personal protective clothing and equipment for soldiers.
McCord is associate dean for research at the College of Natural Resources and Apperson is a professor emeritus of public health entomology and vector biology. Roe is a professor specializing in insect toxicology and physiological genomics.