POTSDAM -- Researchers at Clarkson University worked with a team at Air Innovations of North Syracuse to test the HEPAirX system, an air purification system.

The team that developed the system was recently granted clearance by the Food and Drug Administration to market the device as a class II medical recirculating air cleaner.

The Clarkson team, led by Andrea Ferro and Philip Hopke, worked with Air Innovations to test the device.

The HEPAirX fits in a bedroom window and filters out indoor air pollutants such as dust mites, pollen, cat dander, mold spores and other allergens, while simultaneously filtering outdoor air supplied to the room.

The device also heats cold winter air and cools warm summer air as it filters into the bedroom to keep the temperature constant.

Clarkson conducted two separate studies of 20 and 30 children with physician-diagnosed asthma. The children revealed significant improvements in lung function and reductions in inflammation when using the device, according to Clarkson staffers.

The children who used HEPAirX while they slept at night continued to show improvement even after several weeks of not using it, according to a Clarkson press release.

Following feedback from the first study, the Clarkson team suggested modifications to HEPAirX to make it smaller and more energy efficient and user-friendly.