Hygiene and sterilization: Hightech for clean surfaces
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Image: Surgical instruments in a metal sieve; Copyright: Chalabala

Chalabala

Sterile supplies: AI-based recognition of surgical instruments with Cir.Log

04/04/2024

The Cir.Log project between Charité Facility Management GmbH (CFM) and Fraunhofer IPK aims to increase the efficiency of sterile processing in hospitals and improve patient safety. Essentially, the aim is to create a smooth transition from current workflows to a more efficient, technology-supported system.
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Image: Plasma ignition of the plasma source used: The plasma is visible here in a so-called filamentous discharge in the form of small purple flashes; Copyright: RUB, Marquard

RUB, Marquard

Sterilization: how bacteria defend themselves against plasmas

04/12/2023

A research team headed by Professor Julia Bandow and Dr. Tim Dirks from the Chair for Applied Microbiology at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, showed that bacteria that overproduce the heat shock protein Hsp33 can withstand plasma treatment more effectively than others.
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Image: Xing Xie is holding holding a chip in close up; Copyright: Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech

New ultrafast water disinfection method is more environmentally friendly

27/02/2023

Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have found a way to use small shocks of electricity to disinfect water, reducing energy consumption, cost, and environmental impact.
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Image: The doctor treats the wound on the patient's leg in a clinic room; Copyright: Okrasyuk

Okrasyuk

Wound care: New spray fights infections and antibiotic resistance

07/02/2023

A group of researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden are presenting a new spray that can kill even antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and that can be used for wound care and directly on implants and other medical devices.
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Image: Microscopic image: The picture shows a textile fiber with salt crystals (light blue) and viruses around 100 nanometers in size (green); Copyright: Empa

Empa

Watching viruses fail

20/12/2022

Using a new analytical method, Empa researchers have tracked viruses as they pass through face masks and compared their failure on the filter layers of different types of masks.
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Image: An employee in protective clothing holds a piece of non-woven fabric in his hand and examines it; Copyright: Freudenberg Performance Materials

Freudenberg Performance Materials

ProQuIV optimizes the production of nonwoven masks

12/12/2022

Producing infection control clothing requires a lot of energy and uses lots of material resources. Fraunhofer researchers have now developed a technology which helps to save materials and energy when producing nonwovens.
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Safe and clean – Steelco S.p.A.

16/11/2022

Safe reprocessing of medical instruments is particularly important in laboratory or hospital operations. It is good to have a reliable partner who does not shy away from any challenge: Steelco S.p.A. offers efficient and versatile solutions for even the most specific customer requirements of equipment and systems for washing, disinfection, and sterilization. We learn more at MEDICA 2022.
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Image: Cleaning staff at a hospital is wiping the floor of an OR; Copyright: karrastock

karrastock

Disinfection: Solutions to stop pathogens from spreading

02/05/2022

Disinfection and sterilization are the most reliable and best way to ensure patient safety in healthcare settings. Whether it is at the point of care when the patient is either at the hospital or medical practice, or wherever medical devices are manufactured and packaged in a sterile environment – the transmission of pathogens and microorganisms can have severe health impacts.
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Image: A room in a hospital with white floor, ceiling, walls and cabinets; Copyright: Prostock-studio

Prostock-studio

Hygiene and sterilization: Hightech for clean surfaces

02/05/2022

Due to the Corona pandemic, a lot of attention is currently focused on the protective effect of medical masks. But especially in medical work areas, the protection against aerosol transmission is not enough, because a lot of pathogens can be transmitted trough direct contact with people or surfaces. Hygienic measures against contact infections like these are very costly, though.
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Image: Black, box-like device that directs a small, blue flame towards a light switch; Copyright: Fraunhofer IST/Paul Kurze

Fraunhofer IST/Paul Kurze

Cold plasma: Contactless disinfection of surfaces

02/05/2022

One of the most time-consuming tasks in hospitals is the manual cleaning and disinfection of high touch points and surfaces such as door handles, buttons, and switches. These are areas where microorganisms are spread by direct skin contact. The “MobDi – Mobile Disinfection” research project is developing a robot that automatically cleans and disinfects these areas. It will use cold plasma.
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Image: a clean room of SOMI medical, in the rear area is an employee sitting, in the front area is a filled storage rack; Copyright: SOMI medical GmbH

SOMI medical GmbH

Production hygiene: the packaging process from warehouse to logistics

02/05/2022

Applications of telemedicine surged in popularity in efforts to reduce the COVID-19 infection risk for both medical professionals and patients. Unfortunately, the services typically lack a proper diagnostic option.
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Image: Surgeon is inserting a heart catheter into a patient’s body; Copyright: PantherMedia/fly_wish

Single-use catheter reprocessing in electrophysiology

01/03/2022

Catheter ablation is a way to treat irregular heartbeats, or arrhythmias, like atrial fibrillation. Although catheters are classified as single-use or disposable devices, the complex instruments can be reused multiple times thanks to extensive reprocessing.
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Image: PD Dr. med. Arne Wieser and Prof. Dr. Christoph Haisch; Copytight: LMU University Hospital Munich

LMU University Hospital Munich

Room divider based on UV-C light inactivates SARS-CoV-2 aerosols

22/12/2021

Despite myriad precautionary measures, virus-contaminated aerosols still pose a serious problem indoors. An invisible protective wall of UV-C ligh could provide a solution and reliably curb the spread of viruses and other pathogens in rooms in the future while allowing total freedom of movement.
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Mobile hygiene robot in the hospital – The cleaning force of the future

25/05/2021

One of the most time-consuming tasks in a hospital is the disinfection of often-used surfaces like light switches or door handles. This is especially important during the corona pandemic. The "DeKonBot" by Fraunhofer IPA could support hospital staff here in the future. Learn in our video interview with Dr. Birgit Graf how the robot works.
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Image: Simulation models of cough droplets falling to the ground in front of a person; Copyright: V. D'Alessandro, M. Falone, L. Giammichele, R. Ricci

V. D'Alessandro, M. Falone, L. Giammichele, R. Ricci

Irradiating COVID-19 cough droplets with UV-C lamps

16/03/2021

Using supercomputer numerical modeling of saliva droplets' diffusion produced by coughs, researchers in Italy explore deactivating COVID-19 virus particles via UV-C light.
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Image: A long hallway in a hospital with a lot of doors; Copyright: PantherMedia/dlpn

Disinfection: antibacterial coating on surfaces in the ICU

01/03/2021

All hospitalized patients are susceptible to contracting a nosocomial infection, with ICU patients being particularly at risk. The effects of these hospital-acquired infections are often more dangerous than the original reason for the in-patient hospitalization. The "PACMAN" project is now testing an antimicrobial coating for frequently used contact surfaces at high risk of pathogen transmission.
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Image: Drops of a solution are filled into a microwell plate; Copyright: Tel Aviv University

Tel Aviv University

Ozone effective against coronavirus

25/02/2021

Studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 remains active on aerosols and surfaces for between several hours and several days, depending on the nature of the surface and environmental conditions.
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Image: A hospital employee is cleaning an endoscope; Copyright: PantherMedia/sielemann

PantherMedia/sielemann

Medical devices: hygienic design combats pathogens

03/02/2021

Medical hygiene does not just play a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preventing the transmission of infectious diseases and especially the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms is paramount even in non-pandemic times. While hygiene practices in hospitals and medical offices are essential, the industry can also make an important contribution with hygienic product design.
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Image: Head of a mannequin with transparent face shield and surgical mask; Copyright: Messe Düsseldorf/Achim Wiese

virtual.MEDICA 2020: Experience medicine online

02/11/2020

This year is completely different! Normally, we would offer you an advanced peek into the MEDICA’s halls in Dusseldorf at this point. But due to the corona pandemic, the trade fair takes place online as virtual.MEDICA. We nevertheless took a look at this year’s topics of special interest.
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Image: A blue, box-shaped device with a handle and a nozzle; Copyright: 99Technologies S.A.

Disinfection: let mist do the work

02/11/2020

Healthcare settings require sharp weapons to fight both hospital-acquired infections and pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. Besides protective equipment, regular room disinfection is one of them. But they require time and are also prone to error if done manually. Fully automated solutions are needed to relief hospital staff from this exhausting work and perform it reliably. So, why not fog the room?
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Image: A researcher sits at a laboratory bench and puts gloves at his hands; Copyright: PantherMedia/dragana.stock@gmail.com

The safe laboratory – protection through technology

01/04/2020

When biomedical researchers or diagnosticians work with potentially contagious materials like cell cultures, blood or tissue, they need absolute protection from pathogens. Both safety measures in the workspace and the correct tools and materials are key here. Learn in our Topic of the Month what is important for protection in the lab and what a safe laboratory looks like.
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Image: Researcher with gloves and protective suit is working at a microscope; Copyright: PantherMedia/EvgeniyShkolenko

BSL-4 laboratories: highest levels of safety and protection

01/04/2020

Laboratories are sectioned into four biosafety levels to dictate the precautions required to isolate dangerous biological agents. The highest level of biological safety, BSL-4, is perhaps the most well-known when we think of containing pathogens and microbes. However, the fewest number of laboratories actually fall into the BSL-4 category.
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Image: Microscope next to a screen showing pictures of bacteria cultures; Copyright: PantherMedia/shmeljov

Laboratory safety: infection prevention in the work area

01/04/2020

What goes in, must not come out - and must also not cause harm to anyone working inside the lab. That's perhaps a nice way of summing up "laboratory safety" in one sentence - at least wherever pathogens are handled in biological and medical settings. The necessary laboratory safety precautions primarily depend on what is waiting "inside".
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Hightech solutions for hygiene, disinfection and sterilisation

21/11/2019

Hightech solutions for hygiene in the medical sector have been getting better and faster. There are not only machines that can disinfect everything by themselves, but there are portable and handy sterilisation solutions as well. At MEDICA 2019 you can find everything that is up-and-coming around medical hygiene.
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