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With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe, people have come to understand the requirement of sanitation. However, other than the personal hygiene, sanitization of all the appliances (like mobile phone, wristwatch, wallet, eye wear, etc.) has become very important. Therefore, the requirement of germicides is being increased to sanitize all the appliances. A few germicides comprise chemical sanitization mechanisms and others devices are based on high radiant UV (ultraviolet) light. From the available literature, UV-based germicides are more efficient and effective in killing the harmful microorganisms. However, in the existing system the rate of disinfection is less, which makes this system lag. In general, the UV-based germicides use UV rays for the sanitization process. The UV rays are one of the forms of electromagnetic radiation with the wave lengths from 10 to 400nm. Typically, there are three types of UV rays, viz., ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and ultraviolet C (UVC) Moreover, UVA are longer waves, used as a black light through which microorganisms may be noticeable, while UVC are the shorter waves that kill the harmful microorganisms directly by destructing their DNA. Further, we have developed a germicidal system with greater rate of disinfection that is comparatively faster than the existing system, and it also includes the sanitization of our working environment too to disinfect the airborne organisms with greater accuracy. In the present invention, an IoT device that provides surface sanitization through microcontroller-based UV germicide is developed to reduce the disinfection time and air sterilization as well. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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The temperature-dependent external quantum efficiency (EQE) droops of 265 nm, 275 nm, 280 nm, and 285 nm AlGaN-based ultraviolet-c light-emitting diodes (UVC-LEDs) differed in Al contents have been comprehensively investigated. The modifiedABCmodel (R = An+Bn2+Cn3) with the current-leakage related term,f(n)= Dn4, has been employed to analyze the recombination mechanisms in these UVC-LED samples. Experimental results reveal that, at relatively low electrical-current levels, the contribution of Shockley-Read-Hall (SRH) recombination exceeds those of the Auger recombination and carrier leakage. At relatively high electrical-current levels, the Auger recombination and carrier leakage jointly dominate the EQE droop phenomenon. Moreover, the inactivation efficiencies of 222 nm excimer lamp, 254 nm portable Mercury lamp, 265 nm, 280 nm, and 285 nm UVC-LED arrays in the inactivation ofEscherichia colihave been experimentally investigated, which could provide a technical reference for fighting against the new COVID-19.
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Aim: To evaluate the effect of decontamination and reuse on N95 masks. Background(s): The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has strained the global availability of masks. Such shortage represents a threat to healthcare workers (HCWs). Mask reprocessing and reuse may alleviate the shortage. Many laboratory studies have proven the effectiveness and feasibility of decontaminating N95 masks. However, very few had HCWs wearing them between cycles of decontamination. Our study evaluated mask integrity (assessed by qualitative mask fitting [QMF], as well as technical measures like bacterial filtration efficacy [BFE]) through five cycles of decontamination using four different modalities - steam, moist heat (MH), UV-C irradiation (UVCI), and hydrogen peroxide vaporization (HPV). Method(s): Each study cycle involved a HCW wearing a N95 mask for two hours, followed by the assigned decontamination process, and then a QMF. This was repeated for a maximum of 5 cycles, as long as the wearer passed QMF. 40 HCWs were recruited for each of the four decontamination modalities. The technical measures of mask integrity assessed were: BFE, Particulate Filtration Efficiency (PFE), Pressure Drop and Splash Resistance. Result(s): 60.6% (HPV) to 77.5% (MH) of the masks passed five cycles of wear and decontamination, as assessed by the wearers passing QMF all five times. MH-decontaminated masks retained all technical measures of integrity through all 5 cycles. HPV reduced masks' BFE after the fourth cycle while UVCI tended to increase the Pressure Drop. Conclusion(s): The results suggest that MH is a promising method for decontaminating N95 masks without compromising fit and integrity. [Figure presented] [Table presented]Copyright © 2023 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.
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Purpose: UVC radiation has been proven to kill known pathogens and recent years have seen increased adoption of UVC disinfection technology in healthcare settings in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 and other common hospital-acquired infections. European Council Directive 2006/25/EC outlines the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) levels for workers due to artificial optical radiation. Knowing the output of a UVC disinfection system allows us to better quantify the risks however this quantitative information is not readily available to the user for some systems. The purpose of this study was to measure the output of a UVC disinfection system used in a hospital environment using a light meter calibrated for the UVC range. Material(s) and Method(s): The THOR UVC disinfection system (Finsen Technologies Ltd, UK) was used for this study. This system uses 90- watt TUV PL-L mercury lamps (Philips Lighting, UK) which emit UVC light at 254nm. It features 24 bulbs around a central column, and the system is controlled remotely via a tablet interface. An ILT2400 light meter (International Light Technologies, USA) calibrated for the 254nm UVC range was mounted on a tripod. The output was measured under different conditions to determine repeatability, consistency, and variation with height, distance, orientation, and exposure time. Unless stated otherwise the measurements were taken at a distance of 1m and a height of 1.5m. The test area chosen was representative of the maximum size of a patient room with an area of 31m2. Result(s): The mean maximum output of the system was 2.2+/-0.1 mW/ cm2. This was found to be consistent over a period of 25 minutes. These results were used to calculate the time to reach the MPE (T[MPE]). The output at a tower orientation of 0degree and 180degree was found to be 22% higher than those at orientations of 90degree and 270degree. Conclusion(s): Using these quantitative results, it was possible to determine the maximum permissible exposure time for the UVC radiation emitted from this system. The observed variations in system output due to contributions of scattered radiation, system orientation, and height may have implications for the degree of disinfection achieved. The T[MPE] of 2.6 seconds based on these measurements was 20% lower than the value estimated. The orientation of the system was shown to impact the T[MPE]. These results highlight that a multidisciplinary approach which includes Medical Physics should be taken when introducing these systems to a hospital environment. Note: changed to ePoster after submission.Copyright © 2023 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.
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The Covid-19 epidemic has been the most consequential global health crisis since the era of the influenza pandemic of 1918 [1]. Due to its high spreading rate, the virus disseminated across the world in a very short time span, forcing the World Health Organization to declare Covid-19 a global pandemic after just 3 months from the first reported case in China. At the beginning of the pandemic, when no vaccines were available, people entrust their safety to very few devices such as personal protective equipment (face masks, shields, and gloves), lock-down, and social distancing. The lack of alternative and not conventional techniques to suppress the spread of airborne epidemics among humans has pushed the research to develop new antiviral devices. The SAVE-US project (Suppression of Airborne Viral Epidemic Spread by UV-Light Barriers) aims at developing and demonstrating an innovative antimicrobial device based on 222nm-radiation. As known from the literature, the UVC radiation (200-280 nm) is the most effective wavelength for the inactivation of viruses and bacteria, corresponding to the DNA and RNA absorption peaks, but may also be mutagenic. For this reason, UVC-light sterilization is commonly performed in the absence of living organisms. Radiation in the far-UVC, especially at 222 nm, has been recently investigated because it shows a good antimicrobial efficacy, tested already on both bacteria [2] and virus [3] models including coronavirus, with very limited risks to human health. The low risk is associated to the small penetration depth of 222 nm light (a few mum): the energy is absorbed by the superficial stratum corneum of the skin that contains dead cells, with negligible irradiation of the underlying live tissue [4]. We will present the first version of a new prototype of 222 nm-illuminator and some preliminary results on its characterization;the presented device will be used in successive in vitro and in vivo experiments with SARS-CoV-2 virus. The device embeds a far-UVC lamp emitting at 222 nm, optical filters, and the controlling electronics. We show results on the spatial homogeneity of the emission intensity and the dependence on the lamp-virus distance. We also report on the ozone production due to absorption of far-UVC light from molecular oxygen naturally present in the air in order to evaluate its safety for human being and to properly evaluate its photo-killing efficacy.Copyright © 2023
ABSTRACT
Despite the gradual return to pre-pandemic conditions, the spreading of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) left several open issues. Nowadays it is know that airborne infections, including COVID-19, are conveyed by particles having the size of >5 mum (droplets) and <5 mum (droplets nuclei), ejected by coughing and sneezing [1]. While droplets undergo to dehydration and precipitation, droplet nuclei persist in air for long time after their ejection, contributing to infection spreading. Actual prevention strategies are based on non-pharmaceutical interventions act to reduce droplets diffusion and spacing from Personal Protective Equipment, such as facial masks, and social distancing measure. Nevertheless, for the new endemic phase of COVID-19 the development of new strategies for airborne infections' containment becomes unavoidable. In this project, we propose a new device for the suppression of Airborne Viral Aerosols designed to work in situations with constrained geometries (e.g. public transportation, offices, waiting rooms etc.) not allowing social distancing. The device, devised to perform photokilling of viral aerosols in air in presence of humans, has its core in an UV illumination system operating at 222 nm. It is know from literature that UV radiation alters the genetic material of viruses and bacteria whose maximum absorption wavelengths are in the far-UV range (UVC, 100-280 nm), the most effective for sterilization [2]. Differently from the operative wavelength of most commercial systems (254 nm), the higher tissue absorption prevents the 222 nm radiation to travel over the very first epidermal layers [3] constituting a minor health risk for applications in presence of people. The device combines the UV illumination system with a vertical flux of air that conveys exhaled particles to the light source and controls humidity and temperature, crucial parameters for virus diffusion. After its development, the device prototype will be tested in model experiments. Initially, its safety will be verified by monitoring in particular the UVC-induced ozone production. Then, in vitro photokilling experiments will be performed in two steps: (i) on a layer of immobilized SARS-Cov-2 virus act to obtain optimal UV doses for an effective sterilization;(ii) on SARS-Cov-2 aerosol models. For this last experiment, a model viral aerosol miming the characteristics of cough and sneeze particles will be preliminary studied and supported by synthetic data to characterize the optical properties of the reference scenario. The resulting information will be crucial for the final design of the device itself. As a last step, we will test the device in in vivo experiments. An air flux, harvesting exhaled air by infected mice, will be illuminated by the device and will be sent to healthy mice. Finally, the infectiveness of exhaled air after the UV treatment will be evaluated, providing more information for further applications in the presence of humans.Copyright © 2023
ABSTRACT
During the ongoing Covid19 Pandemic, it is a need of the hour to have a fully sanitized public transport system, free from Covid19 virus. Public transport is one of the major segments responsible for the spreading of covid19 like pandemic infections. It is required to sanitize public transport before every new trip. During the Covid19 pandemic, human beings are forced to live with viruses, hence making disinfection a routine work and making disinfection more user-friendly and efficient is the main objective of this research work. Spraying alcohol-based solution inside public transport is not suitable due to fire safety and other reasons. Ultraviolet C (UVC) based disinfection is more suitable in such applications, as disinfection can be done anytime, anywhere without damaging the interiors of the vehicle. It can kill viruses or bacteria in less than 20 seconds and can disinfect any surfaces, seats, or any point of public contact inside any public transport by effectively killing bacteria, fungi, dust mites, viruses, etc. This research paper aims to offer the design and implementation of an Ultraviolet C irradiation-based sanitizer system for the public transport system, which can disinfect the public contact surfaces inside the public transport, to make our travel safe from Covid19 like viruses. The sanitization system is developed using a NODEMCU microcontroller, UVC led arrays, switching circuit, PIR sensor, and mobile app. Ultraviolet sensor is used to read UVC irradiation index inside the transport to measure the effectiveness of the developed system and real-time data is linked with internet cloud for remote monitoring and control. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased effort to find new approaches to prevent airborne transmission of diseases. One of these approaches is the use of far ultraviolet C (far-UVC) irradiation. Far-UVC is emitted at 222 nm by KrCl excimer lamps and has been shown to inactivate many pathogens, including human coronaviruses, under laboratory conditions. Studies so far suggest that human skin can tolerate even extremely high doses of filtered far-UVC without the induction of erythema or significant DNA damage, unlike existing germicidal ultraviolet lamps, which typically emit at 254 nm. Far-UVC could therefore potentially be used safely to reduce effectively airborne transmission in public spaces. However, if that was to happen, it would be important that the general public understood the risks and benefits of far-UVC. The aims of this study were to carry out a survey to assess current public knowledge and understanding of far-UVC, with a view to the subsequent development of a public engagement activity to raise awareness and address safety concerns about the use of far-UVC. The survey was developed in-house and was distributed to the general public through the use of social media and the results showed that only 32.4% of respondents had previously heard of far-UVC vs. 64.9% having heard of UVC. Despite this, after being given a short (< 200 words) page of information about far- UVC, the majority of participants said that they would feel safer in public spaces if far-UVC was used vs. how they feel currently. Participants were then asked if they would support use of far-UVC in hospitals, public leisure spaces such as shops and cafes, public transport and their own workplaces. In all scenarios, the majority of participants said they would support far-UVC use, with < 10% of responses for each scenario being an outright 'no'. Of people who answered 'no' or 'not sure' to these questions, most cited reasons such as not having enough information or still not being convinced of its safety. These responses highlight the need for public engagement in this field, in order to raise awareness and to allow the general public to be better informed, with respect to the anticipated benefits and the safety of far-UVC irradiation use for disinfection purposes.
ABSTRACT
Improving the cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces is one of the core components of reducing healthcare-associated infections. The effectiveness of an enhanced protocol applying UV-C irradiation for terminal room disinfection between two successive patients was evaluated. Twenty high-touch surfaces in different critical areas were sampled according to ISO 14698-1, both immediately pre- and post-cleaning and disinfection standard operating protocol (SOP) and after UV-C disinfection (160 sampling sites in each condition, 480 in total). Dosimeters were applied at the sites to assess the dose emitted. A total of 64.3% (103/160) of the sampling sites tested after SOP were positive, whereas only 17.5% (28/160) were positive after UV-C. According to the national hygienic standards for health-care setting, 9.3% (15/160) resulted in being non-compliant after SOP and only 1.2% (2/160) were non-compliant after UV-C disinfection. Operation theaters was the setting that resulted in being less compliant with the standard limit (≤15 colony-forming unit/24 cm2) after SOP (12%, 14/120 sampling sites) and where the UV-C treatment showed the highest effectiveness (1.6%, 2/120). The addition of UV-C disinfection to the standard cleaning and disinfection procedure had effective results in reducing hygiene failures.
Subject(s)
Cross Infection , Robotics , Humans , Disinfection/methods , Xenon , Hospitals , Ultraviolet RaysABSTRACT
Due to the recent and ongoing pandemic - COVID-19 - there was an urgency to determine a method to delay the continuously rapid development of the new virus. As a result, Ultraviolet-C (UVC) light, also known as Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI), has been in higher demand because of its known ability to disinfect quickly and effectively. However, because of its short wavelength/higher energy, either 222nm or 254nm, material degradation is usually much more accelerated than Ultraviolet-A (UVA) or Ultraviolet-B (UVB). At this moment, this study only observed color change when exposing polystyrene to UVC light, and it is believed that this is one of the first studies, if not the first, conducted with this material. Polystyrene was selected because of its availability, abundance of relevant research (ie. UVA/UVB exposure results), and its use in weathering standards. Additionally, since there are no standards specifically about UVC exposure, this preliminary research may provide some direction. © 2022 Society of Plastics Engineers. All rights reserved.
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The COVID-19 pandemic demanded innovative approaches to handle the situation around the globe. The Coronavirus challenged the effectiveness and practice of conventional surface disinfection methods. Existing disinfection methods rely on the manual administration of disinfectants. They are time-consuming, costly, and subject to human error. The paper proposes the implementation of an Ultraviolet Disinfection module that can be attached to any autonomous mobile robot. The autonomous Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) disinfection robot helps the user disinfect the premise without human intervention. The proposed system ensures proper disinfection by discovering near-optimal paths through the environment in minimum time. © 2022 IEEE.
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The global Coronavirus pandemic is of urgent concern with its high transmission rate and rapid spread throughout the world from 2019. This paper introduces an Ultraviolet-C (UVC) device to be fitted on escalators which was designed to inactivate bacteria and viruses on the surfaces of handrails during escalator operation. Through a combination method of measurement and finite element analysis (FEA) simulation, the authors accurately calculated the UVC intensity, dosage, and distribution of the UVC device on a surface. The authors also describe how the UVC device works and detail the disinfection efficacy of the device to inactivate bacteria and viruses. In this work, efficacy of the device against two bacteria (E. Coli and S. Aureus) and two corona viruses (HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43) were tested. All tests were conducted in two modes of the UVC device: continuous mode and pulsed cyclic mode. Based on the test results and combining UVC parameters, the disinfection efficacy of the UVC device was analysed. The investigation found, i) the relationship between the disinfection efficacy and the UVC parameters of the device, ii) the relationship between the disinfection efficacies of continuous and pulsed test mode and iii) the dosage for killing 99% pathogens (D99) of the UVC device for the two bacteria and viruses based on escalator operation. © 2022, Lift and Escalator Symposium Educational Trust. All rights reserved.
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Since the SARS-CoV-2 transmission can occur by contact with surfaces contaminated with respiratory secretions and other fluids like faeces or saliva, the superficial disinfection has been one of the main problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-contagion has been observed between health personnel and cleaning staff from hospitals attending COVID-19 patients. The problem was solved through the implementation of a contact-less disinfection system that reduces the COVID-19 exposition of sanitation workers from healthcare facilities. This work presents the results observed from the implementation of an Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) disinfection method controlled and monitored using an Internet of Things (IoT) scheme. Also, implementation experiences obtained from the application of the proposed solution at the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ) are discussed in this article. The main contribution of this work relies in the fulfillment of a disinfection proceeding that helps reducing the cross-contagion between the cleaning staff of hospitals attending the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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Covid-19 has shaken the entire globe. In the fight against this pandemic, the doctors and frontline workers are the real heroes who are facing an unseen enemy. The Masks, PPE Kits, and other protective wearables are used by patients, doctors, and other front-line workers for only one time. This leads to increased costs and supply issues, and also leads to huge environmental pollution. That is the problem that the product 'Safe Box' Addresses. The proposed system sterilizes Masks, PPE Kits, and other wearables making them reusable. 'Safe Box' plays a vital role in aiding hospitals, laboratories, clinics, and other healthcare facilities where non-reusable kits like masks, PPE, and other wearables are widely used. © 2022 IEEE.
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We developed a high-speed filterless airflow multistage photocatalytic elbow aerosol removal system for the treatment of bioaerosols such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Human-generated bioaerosols that diffuse into indoor spaces are 1-10 µm in size, and their selective and rapid treatment can reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. A high-speed airflow is necessary to treat large volumes of indoor air over a short period. The proposed system can be used to eliminate viruses in aerosols by forcibly depositing aerosols in a high-speed airflow onto a photocatalyst placed inside the system through inertial force and turbulent diffusion. Because the main component of the deposited bioaerosol is water, it evaporates after colliding with the photocatalyst, and the nonvolatile virus remains on the photocatalytic channel wall. The residual virus on the photocatalytic channel wall is mineralized via photocatalytic oxidation with UVA-LED irradiation in the channel. When this system was operated in a 4.5 m3 aerosol chamber, over 99.8% aerosols in the size range of 1-10 µm were removed within 15 min. The system continued delivering such performance with the continuous introduction of aerosols. Because this system exhibits excellent aerosol removal ability at a flow velocity of 5 m/s or higher, it is more suitable than other reactive air purification systems for treating large-volume spaces.
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This white paper summarizes the key outcomes, topics, and recommendations from the Canada-India Healthcare Summit 2021 Conference, Biotechnology Session, held on May 20-21, 2021. In particular, the authors have focused their attention on topics ranging from research and development into the etiology and treatment of COVID-19 to novel approaches, such as ultraviolet-C disinfection and cell and gene therapy. The paper also deals with important topics around the effects of food distribution and nutrition on COVID-19 and vice versa, as well as key considerations around research and development, innovation, policy, grants, and incentives, and finally, summarizes the ways in which Canada and India, being close allies, have already begun to partner to fight the pandemic (as well as future strategies to continue this excellent progress). We also include key points raised during the summit and summarize them as part of this white paper.
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Society is under tremendous tension and pressure due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Coronavirus pandemic-2019 is a critical health emergency with respect to the international concern. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1) disease first came in 2002 and then Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) affects us in 2012. SARS-CoV-2 is the third coronavirus to emerge in the past two decades, which are acting as a serious warning to humans. These pandemic presents major challenges to scientist and international medical agencies to save the earth by this global life-threatening pandemic. Fighting with these major issues, scientists and doctors pointed out the solutions for COVID and Related pandemics, in which the most populated solution, such as ultraviolet (UV)-based disinfection systems. This article is presenting a unique technology for the COVID-19 infected surfaces to either sides. The proposed research is the providing the solutions with the integration/merging of two different technologies in the portable form to provide a unique disinfection system to disinfect the infected/suspected surfaces by ‘Coronavirus disease’ from top and bottom side by exposing the specified samples like currencies/hand held devices/mobile phones/various types of cards, etc. According to the various literatures, ultraviolet-C light as well as 650 nm laser light has the power to destroy the COVID-19 and related viruses. The proposed system is developed to disinfect the above-mentioned items surfaces from COVID-19 like issues and has the ability to disinfect the items in few second (within 3–5 s). The proposed system has the capability to serve the nation at different level as it may be designed and developed in different sizes as per the application. This integrated technology can serve the society in most of the applications like, the major field for disinfection is food and agriculture sectors. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
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Ultrasound technology has revolutionized point-of-care diagnostics, decision-making, and the guidance of interventional procedures in Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine. Recent literature has highlighted important infection control considerations when performing transesophageal or transthoracic echocardiography, point-of-care ultrasound, and ultrasound-guided procedures. This narrative review focuses on operator precautions and disinfection methods and summarizes key recommendations from the international Echocardiography and Radiology Societies.
Subject(s)
Anesthesiology , Echocardiography , Humans , Ultrasonography , Infection Control , Ultrasonography, Interventional/methods , Echocardiography, Transesophageal/methodsABSTRACT
Clinical problem: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) puts the healthcare workers (HCWs) at a high risk of infection. So many aerosol-generating medical procedures, including endotracheal intubation, non-invasive ventilation, and exhaled air dispersion, exacerbate the exponential infection rate as COVID-19 is highly infective and primarily transmitted through aerosols, especially when medical care systems have been overwhelmed by the COVID-19 surge, resulting from the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), hospital wards, and negative pressure rooms. Hence, we develop an ultra-fast-track and effective technology utilizing vented enclosures for individual patients to protect HCWs. The concept of innovation and how it works: We aim to minimize the airborne cross-infection risk in hospitals by limiting the spread of virus and decreasing the encounters between infected patients and HCWs to effectively protect the HCWs by reducing small droplets and aerosol emission from patients. Our system mainly consists of transparent hood, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes, pump, filter, and antiviral materials. When negative pressure is introduced by the pump, the suction at several extraction ports is induced. The contaminated air is conveyed through an exit port at the base of the hood. The extracted contaminated air is cleaned by high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and UVC light, and then released back into the ward. Besides, the hood is coated by anti-viral and anti-bacterial coating. Feasibility and usability for clinical application: (1) Quickly assembled in 5 min: our system can solve the urgent demand when the healthcare system is overwhelmed. (2) Excellent performance: almost 100% aerosol removal efficiency validated by simulations, experiments, and trials in local hospitals. (3) Achieve 26 air changes per hour (ACH) while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) suggests a minimum ACH of 12: our system can provide sufficient air for individual patients in the hood. (4) Highly adjustable, flexible, portable, and low-cost. Scalability and sustainability: Our frame is constructed from PVC materials, which can be readily purchased and manufactured. Our system is highly adjustable, flexible, portable and low-cost, indicating that it can be installed or removed easily in hospitals wards, intensive care unit (ICU), hospital waiting rooms, and clinics without modifying the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
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With the epidemic of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection, AlGaN-based ultraviolet-C light emitting diodes (UVC-LEDs) have attracted widespread attention for their sterilization application. However, the sterilization characters of high power integrated light sources (ILSs) haven't been widely investigated before utilizing in public sanitary security. In this work, by integrating up to 195 UVC-LED chips, high power UVC-LED ILSs with a light output power (LOP) of 1.88 W were demonstrated. The UVC-LED ILSs were verified to have efficient and rapid sterilization capability, which have achieved more than 99.9% inactivation rate of several common pathogenic microorganisms within 1 s. In addition, the corresponding air sterilization module based on them was also demonstrated to kill more than 97% of Staphylococcus albus in the air of 20 m(3) confined room within 30 min. This work demonstrates excellent sterilization ability of UVC-LED ILSs with high LOP, revealing great potential of UVC-LEDs in sterilization applications in the future.