A 3D-printed, touch-activated, sanitizer dispensing device for reducing healthcare-acquired infections

ABSTRACT

Aim: We present a touch-activated, sanitizer dispensing (TSD) device, intended to be mounted on high-touch surfaces, that aims to reduce nosocomial infections. It disinfects the person's hand touching its surface while being self-sterilizing. Materials & methods: The TSD device consists of an array of 3D-printed, passive, miniaturized, mechanical valves that dispense a small amount of liquid sanitizer when touched. Its mechanical performance and disinfecting efficiency were quantified using simulations and experimental tests. Results & conclusion: The TSD device has a disinfecting efficiency comparable to the standard hand sanitizing approach, reducing the microbiological load by approximately 30-times. It can be easily mounted on high-touch surfaces in a healthcare setting and it is expected to greatly reduce the spread of nosocomial infections.