"Virobuster": new Dutch device for cleaning air in Hospitals

[Gert van der Hoek]

Today a device is launched, supposed to clean the air from bacteria, fungi and virii. Radionews today said the device uses UV light to damage the bacteria, etc, so they cannot multiply, they are " de-activated". Name like a comicbook: "ViroBuster".

The device is treating the air; hygiene protocols will have to be followed to prevent infections through direct contact.



website: http://www.virobuster.com/

machinetranslated; edited.

Viruskiller keeps hospital clean

A Netherlands developed viruskiller should destroy stubborn bacteria and fungi in hospitals . Viruses like MRSA, SARS, anthrax, tuberculosis and H5N1 by the so-called virobuster are immediately slain.

The virobuster is the last year in eleven hospitals successfully tested after five years of preparation. The anti-virusapparaat is a bazooka-like object inhaling polluted air and then blowing sterilized air again. The micro-organisms in the tube slain with special uvc lamps.

Annual Dutch hospitals lose about 10 million euros alone, in the fight against MRSA bacterium. Without counting the costs of closing a hospital section or postponing operations.

http://www.debeurs.nl/binnenland/205452/Viruskiller-in-ziekenhuis.html

 

[tropical]

Re: "Virobuster": new Dutch device for cleaning air in Hospitals

Very good for operating rooms, etc., and new hospitals.

But for old-fashioned hospitals without properly designed and installed hospital air-filtering system it will not work.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: "Virobuster": new Dutch device for cleaning air in Hospitals

Well, the website says the device comes in several solutions:

- units for air conditioning systems

- stand alone in (operating) rooms, tents, offices, schools, airports; plug-and-play.

Don't have any shares....

 

[gsgs]

Re: "Virobuster": new Dutch device for cleaning air in Hospitals

I can't find the price. (if it were cheap, they needn't hide it...)

why UV and not filtering instead ? I calculated this some years
ago and concluded that filtering would be more effective,
provides more air-flow and is cheaper.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: "Virobuster": new Dutch device for cleaning air in Hospitals

Price is some $ 3,000 for a unit; unit capacity is 300 m3/hour.

Scalable, you can put 100 or 200 or more units in your building.

Air conditioning systems usually have filters.

The mobile stand alone device has filters included (HENAP).

Filters don?t filter virusses for a 100%? Sick building syndrom?

UV light is without the use of or production of ozone, ion, chemicals and/or residues.

Well, this device could turn out to be disappointing, it seems interesting.

 

[gsgs]

Re: "Virobuster": new Dutch device for cleaning air in Hospitals

I think filtering removes viruses more reliably.
Nothing is 100% ... but close.
In a hospital I would run all incoming air through the filter,
not just as the typical air-purifiers, which stand in the room
and such in some air, cleaning it and blowing it out.

They use UV-lamps near the filters to kill the organisms
trapped by the filter.

UV could be more efficient to clean water,
it is often used for ponds. I haven't calculated that.
An advantage of UV is, that it makes no noise

 

[cartski]

Re: "Virobuster": new Dutch device for cleaning air in Hospitals

I don't get a lot today.

How does this work? How can UV light destroy a virus? Somehow boiling the minute water droplet in which the virus resides? If a piece of inorganic, microscopic dust has a virus on it, what's there to boil?

J.

 

[gsgs]

Re: "Virobuster": new Dutch device for cleaning air in Hospitals

from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet_germicidal_irradiation

> It is effective in destroying the nucleic acids in these organisms so that their DNA is disrupted
> by the UV radiation