Scientists from the University of Alberta and TESER found that a new device uses ultraviolet-C light from hundreds of LED light bulbs to kill viruses and other common pathogens, including flu and common cold viruses, as well as E. coli bacteria, within 60 seconds.
The research was conducted by Ryan Noyce et al.
It’s been known for about a century that UVC light can kill pathogens, but the company needed scientific proof that it works against SARS-CoV-2 to meet Health Canada regulations.
In the study, the team determined how much UVC light was required to fully inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus and prevent it from replicating.
TESER developed two models to sanitize everything from cellphones to parcels to non-invasive medical instruments.
One unit looks much like a microwave and can be placed on a desk or on a mobile cart and moved from a mailroom to a cafeteria, for example.
The other unit has two doors so it can be built into a wall as a pass-through chamber. There is UVC-blocking glass on the doors so you can see the lights working without damaging eyes or skin.
The technology has commercial and health-care applications, and eventually a smaller unit will be developed for residential use.
The units sell for $23,000 each, but the company hopes to bring the price down as they scale up production.
TESER’s product was developed in answer to a call for proposals from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s Testing Stream for Canadian technology companies to find innovative ways to battle COVID-19.
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