UVC Technology for Disinfection of Health Care Facilities.
The Tru-D technology allows hospital staff to easily and confidently disinfect hard, non-porous surfaces in health care facilities. The UVC disinfection robot deconstructs the structure of microorganisms that can pervade health care environments.
What is UVC Light, and How Does It Kill Microorganisms?
WHAT IS UV LIGHT?
Ultraviolet (UV) light is a form of light, invisible to the human eye, that exists on the electromagnetic spectrum between X-rays and visible light. We are exposed to low levels of UV light from the sun’s rays every day, although much of the UV energy is absorbed by the ozone layer.
WHY USE UVC LIGHT TO DISINFECT?
UVC wavelengths are between 200 and 300 nanometers, making them germicidal – meaning they are capable of inactivating microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa. This quality makes UVC energy an effective way to prevent microorganisms from replicating in any environment, but especially in hospitals.
HOW DOES UVC DESTROY MICROORGANISMS?
The high energy from short wavelength UVC light is absorbed in the nucleus, damaging nucleic acids and preventing microorganisms from reproducing. This absorption of UVC energy forms new bonds between nucleotides, creating double bonds or “dimers.” Dimerization of molecules, particularly thymine, is the most common type of damage incurred by UVC light in microorganisms. The formation of thymine dimers in bacteria and viruses prevents replication.
WHAT TYPE OF UV LIGHT IS GERMICIDAL?
There are three UV light wavelength categories: UVA, UVB, and UVC. The Tru-D device produces UVC, the only wavelength known to be germicidal. UVC utilizes short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (shorter than UVB and UVA, which are NOT germicidal) that is harmful to microorganisms.
Broad Spectrum UV disinfection often claims to be more effective than short-wavelength UVC, but ultimately it wastes a considerable amount of energy with no documented increase in effectiveness – only short-wavelength UVC produces the amount of energy necessary to kill microorganisms.