Scientists at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum, have designed a disinfection gateway and a UV-based facemask disposal bin in the fight against COVID-19.
The disposal device, BIN-19, was formally launched by the Ernakulam District Collector. A unit was installed at the administrative headquarters of the district.
The IoT (internet-of-things)-based BIN-19 is used for collecting and disinfecting used facemasks. The device has been subjected to a series of successful microbiological tests by the Sree Chitra Lab, a press release has said.
Sree Chitra is a testing agency for UV-based devices in the country, in line with the guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
This facility is the first of its kind in Kerala.
The used masks dropped inside a container of the bin will first go through a disinfection process. The disinfected masks will be transferred to another container inside the Bin. The person dropping the mask can sanitise their hands using the automatic sanitiser dispenser attached to the Bin-19.
There is no need to touch or operate any switches in the Bin. All functions are automated in the hands-free equipment for the safety of users and health workers.
Apart from the auto-sanitiser dispenser, other IoT features include a mobile application to navigate and find the Bin-19, a web portal for status alerts, power on/off alerts, and box open alerts.
The Chitra Disinfection Gateway is a portable system that generates hydrogen peroxide mist and has a UV-based decontamination facility.
Hydrogen-peroxide fumes will decontaminate the body, hands, and clothes of a person. The UV system will decontaminate the chamber.
The whole system is electronically controlled. The sensors mounted in the chamber will detect the entry of a person and start the hydrogen peroxide mist generation process. The person is required to walk through the chamber to its end. When the person exits, the system will shut off the hydrogen peroxide fumigation system and will turn on the UV lamp inside the chamber to decontaminate it.
After the UV light is switched off automatically after a prescribed time, the chamber is ready for the next person. The whole process takes only 40 seconds. The system has see-through glass panels on sidewalls for monitoring and is fitted with lights for illumination during use.
UV SPOT, which is the UV light-based multipurpose disinfector, has ultraviolet disinfection lamps. With internal reflective surfaces and UVC Lamps, the device disinfects a board range of microorganisms.
The device is mainly used for disposing of the contaminated or used facemasks and for reusing the UVC stable metallic products. This device is proven under a microbiological test conducted by the Sree Chitra Lab.
SCTIMST is an institute of national importance under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
The country’s Technology Development Board (TDB) is providing financial support for the commercialisation of several new technologies to combat the COVID-19 virus.
Through funding, it is proactively supporting the efforts of scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs, and industrialists towards preventing and containing the spread of the pandemic.
Over the last few weeks, TDB has processed many applications under various domains. It has approved six projects that include thermal scanners, masks, and diagnostic kits, as OpenGov reported earlier.