Effective, Efficient and Safe for Use in Hospital Environments for High-level Disinfection.
Tru-D allows hospital staff to easily and confidently disinfect patient rooms, intensive care units, operating rooms, emergency rooms and long-term care facilities. The UVC disinfection robot deconstructs the DNA of deadly pathogens and common health care-associated infection culprits that may compromise patient outcomes.
What is UVC Light, and How Does It Kill Germs?
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, environmentally-friendly and chemical-free way to prevent microorganisms from replicating in any environment, but especially in hospitals.
HOW DOES UVC DESTROY GERMS?
The high energy from short wavelength UVC light is absorbed in the cellular RNA and DNA, damaging nucleic acids and preventing microorganisms from infecting and 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. Formation of thymine dimers in the DNA of bacteria and viruses prevents replication and inability to infect.
WHAT TYPE OF UV LIGHT IS GERMICIDAL?
There are three UV light wavelength categories: UVA, UVB and UVC. Tru-D SmartUVC 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 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.
PULSED AND UNMEASURED UVC LIGHT
Xenon flash lamps and other unmeasured UVC lights, while they may use UVC lamps, have no way of calculating the UVC dose needed for each location to determine the positioning or time necessary to disinfect accurately, nor can they reach shadowed or hidden surfaces.
As distance from the lamp increases, effectiveness against microorganisms decreases sharply – requiring multiple positioning around the room to achieve even partial disinfection.*
MEASURED AND CONTINUOUS UVC LIGHT
Tru-D is an automated, remotely-operated system that self-adjusts to the size and content dynamics of a room to deliver the proper dose of UVC light energy. Tru-D’s leading edge Sensor360™ technology uses instrument-grade sensors to measure the UVC light that is deflected into shadowed and indirect areas for a terminal disinfection. As energy is deflected around the room, shadowed areas are reached and pathogens are eradicated ensuring a thorough disinfection outcome, every time.
*Evaluation of a Pulsed Xenon Ultraviolet Disinfection System for Reduction of Healthcare Associated Pathogens in Hospital Rooms, Michelle M. Nerandzic, BS et. al 2016