An invisible protective wall made of UV-C light developed by researchers from the Tropical Institute at LMU Klinikum and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the start-up Smart United GmbH could in future reliably contain the spread of viruses and other pathogens in rooms without restricting the freedom of movement of people in the room.
The developers were able to show that the UV light barrier they developed prevents the spread of pathogens through the air indoors by killing the pathogens traveling on the aerosol particles. The protection rate was tested using model organisms. These included E. coli, S. aureus and a coronavirus. Inactivation rates of over 99% are achieved at air velocities of 10 cm/s. The system can be suspended from the ceiling like a lamp to separate rooms. The UV-C light is focused downwards. As with a protective curtain, pathogens are inactivated as soon as they float through on aerosol particles. The system also disinfects the air in the room. A health risk from the UV-C light of the system is avoided by special switch-off devices. The virus protection wall can be used as room dividers, which are thus air-insulated. Delivery is due to start at the beginning of April.
Source: LMU Hospital
