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A Methodology for Remote Microwave Sterilization Applicable to the Coronavirus and Other Pathogens Using Retrodirective Antenna Arrays.
Kossenas, Konstantinos; Podilchak, Symon K; Comite, Davide; Re, Pascual D Hilario; Goussetis, George; Pavuluri, Sumanth K; Griffiths, Samantha J; Chadwick, Robert J; Guo, Chao; Bruns, Nico; Tait-Burkard, Christine; Haas, Jurgen G; Desmulliez, Marc P Y.
  • Kossenas K; School of Engineering, Institute of Digital CommunicationThe University of Edinburgh EH8 8AQ Edinburgh U.K.
  • Podilchak SK; School of Engineering, Institute of Digital CommunicationThe University of Edinburgh EH8 8AQ Edinburgh U.K.
  • Comite D; Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and TelecommunicationsSapienza University of Rome RM 00185 Roma Italy.
  • Re PDH; Institute of Sensors Signals and Systems, School of Engineering and Physical SciencesHeriot-Watt University EH14 4AS Edinburgh U.K.
  • Goussetis G; Institute of Sensors Signals and Systems, School of Engineering and Physical SciencesHeriot-Watt University EH14 4AS Edinburgh U.K.
  • Pavuluri SK; Institute of Sensors Signals and Systems, School of Engineering and Physical SciencesHeriot-Watt University EH14 4AS Edinburgh U.K.
  • Griffiths SJ; Edinburgh Medical School Infection MedicineThe University of Edinburgh EH8 8AQ Edinburgh U.K.
  • Chadwick RJ; Department of Pure and Applied ChemistryUniversity of Strathclyde G1 1XQ Glasgow U.K.
  • Guo C; Department of Pure and Applied ChemistryUniversity of Strathclyde G1 1XQ Glasgow U.K.
  • Bruns N; Department of Pure and Applied ChemistryUniversity of Strathclyde G1 1XQ Glasgow U.K.
  • Tait-Burkard C; Edinburgh Medical School Infection MedicineThe University of Edinburgh EH8 8AQ Edinburgh U.K.
  • Haas JG; Edinburgh Medical School Infection MedicineThe University of Edinburgh EH8 8AQ Edinburgh U.K.
  • Desmulliez MPY; Institute of Sensors Signals and Systems, School of Engineering and Physical SciencesHeriot-Watt University EH14 4AS Edinburgh U.K.
IEEE J Electromagn RF Microw Med Biol ; 6(1): 41-51, 2022 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1731023
ABSTRACT
This paper describes an innovative remote surface sterilization approach applicable to the new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The process is based on the application of a liquid film on the surface or object under sterilization (OUS). A beacon signal is used to self-steer the transmitted power from the designed retrodirective antenna array (RDA) towards the OUS using circularly polarized fields; then, the sterilization is completed by raising and maintaining the required temperature for a certain time. Results suggest that the process takes 5 minutes or less for an angular coverage range over 60 degrees whilst abiding by the relevant safety protocols. This paper also models the power incident onto the OUS, providing consistent results with full-wave simulations. A practical RDA system is developed using a 2 × 1 microstrip patch array operating at 2.5 GHz and tested through the positioning of a representative target surface. Measurements, developed by sampling the power transmitted by the heterodyne RDA, are reported for various distances and angles, operating in the near-field of the system. To further validate the methodology, an additional experiment investigating virus deactivation through microwave heating was also developed. Measurements have been performed with an open cavity microwave oven on the Coronavirus (strain 229E) and egg white protein in a cuvette. This demonstrates that the temperature increases of aqueous films up to 70 [Formula see text]C by remote microwave-induced heat can denature proteins and deactivate viruses. Possible applications of the method include sterilization of ambulances, medical equipment, and internet of things (IoT) devices.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Prognostic study Language: English Journal: IEEE J Electromagn RF Microw Med Biol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Prognostic study Language: English Journal: IEEE J Electromagn RF Microw Med Biol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article