The 2017 Excellence in Surgical Products Awards will be presented in the November/December issue of Surgical Products. Leading up to the publication of that issue, nominees will be featured on the Surgical Products website.
Category: Infection Control
Product description and innovation synopsis:
Overhead and out of sight, the patented UV24 system reduces the risk of healthcare-acquired infections, defending patients, staff, and visitors from airborne bacteria, viruses, and mold wherever it is installed, from family waiting areas to general wards to surgical suites. The UV24 system provides continuous 24/7 ultraviolet protection using UV-C and filtration to draw in and treat environmental air, all safely hidden behind standard-sized fluorescent or LED ceiling lights. One UV24 unit can treat a volume of air equivalent to a 10’ x 10’ x 8’ room, four times per hour. It is a game-changer in effective infection control.
(Image credit: Nuvo)
What sets this product apart from others available in the industry?
UV has been used as a disinfection tool for decades in healthcare. But the challenge has always been its method of delivery: Conventional UV-C systems cannot be operated in occupied spaces, disinfection only lasts until the space is occupied again, and UV-C is only effective in areas that are direct line of sight. The patented UV24 system uniquely resolves these issues by operating safely overhead in any occupied or unoccupied space, continuously drawing airborne micro-organisms into its UV chamber, where the air is treated and returned, cleaner and safer. No special labor is involved once the unit has been installed.
How does this product benefit the surgical team and aid in better outcomes?
Healthcare-acquired infections impact nearly 2 million people worldwide each year, killing nearly 99,000 people annually. Airborne bacteria and fungi, such as MRSA, VRE, Streptococcus, and Influenza put not only patients but healthcare workers at risk. However, clinical studies have demonstrated that UV24 is effective in removing better than 90 percent of these and other airborne pathogens. Because UV24 operates overhead continuously, its use is effortless, quiet and cost-efficient, thus outperforming other UV-C solutions. As a result, occupation of any UV24-treated space by patients and staff is both healthier and safer.
