St. Luke’s, Lehigh University collaboration results in intelligent, life-saving invention. BETHLEHEM, PA. - Among stories of hope, generosity and togetherness, the COVID-19 pandemic has additionally given rise to an unimaginable feat of ingenuity - the invention of the "Bug Zapper" to sterilize masks. As hospitals and different front-line organizations jumped to safe massive quantities of life-saving provides and private protective gear (PPE), there has additionally been the need to identify faster, more efficient methods to scrub and sterilize these items, significantly the coveted N95 masks. St. Luke’s University Health Network anesthesiologist, Zap Zone Defender Experience Christopher Roscher, MD, anticipated the need and Zap Zone Defender Experience an idea started to type. "It turned clear that PPE provides would develop into limited because the virus progressed," he says. The St. Luke’s Sterile Processing Department, or SPD, is the place the place all surgical and medical instruments are sent to be meticulously cleaned, sanitized and Zap Zone Defender Experience packaged for reuse. It’s a behind-the-scenes perform that's a vital a part of the health care system. "On any given day, we are processing many, many gadgets here at our hospital in Bethlehem," states Taylor Bennett, St. Luke’s Network Director Zap Zone Defender Experience of Sterile Processing.

"But with the current scenario, there may be an overwhelming must process our employees’ PPE on a daily basis. For Dr. Roscher, a mild went on - actually and figuratively. "I had been doing private research about discovering ways to decontaminate masks for reuse, and peer-reviewed literature prompt that, in a pandemic, UV-C mild might be a suitable strategy to sterilize masks," he says. UV-C is a specific range of UV, or extremely-violet, gentle and has been shown to deactivate viruses and other pathogens by causing modifications of their DNA. Through a mutual contact, Dr. Roscher acquired in touch with Nelson Tansu, PhD, Lehigh University’s Director and Endowed Chair of its Center for Photonics and Nanoelectronics (CPN). "What St. Luke’s was in search of was a high-throughput sterilization system," said Dr. Tansu. The 2 organizations joined forces through a collection of Zoom conferences and lots of of emails, to design, fabricate, install and test the machine - all within a matter of two weeks - and all whereas maintaining social distancing protocols.

The tip consequence: a technique to effectively and efficiently sterilize 200 masks every 8 minutes! The "Bug Zapper" in action. "Our existing units weren't designed for Zap Zone Defender System giant-scale use. They may solely sterilize about 30 masks at a time," stated Eric Tesoriero, DO, anesthesiologist for St. Luke’s and a collaborator on the undertaking. The unit, engineered by Lehigh students and staff and assembled at St. Luke’s by biomedical engineer Jay Johnson, has been affectionally named the "Bug Zapper" not only on account of its look, however as a consequence of its COVID-killing properties. "It is incredible that this project moved at such a fast pace," remarks Dr. Tansu. The staff ranged from PhDs to MDs and even included an unexpected contributor - Axel Tansu, Dr. Tansu’s adolescent son. In reality, it was Axel’s contribution that allowed the unit to have such a high-throughput rate. "Our authentic design was cylindrical in form, to ensure even exposure of the sunshine on all surfaces," explains Dr. Tansu.

"Axel got here to me and said, ‘Dad, what about an octagon? ’ And positive enough, he was right. A patent to guard the team’s mental design has been filed. And a celebration for the collaborators to meet, in-particular person, will be deliberate as soon as it's secure to do so. Until then, the Bug Zapper will probably be arduous at work, serving to to protect the frontline staff at St. Luke’s and past. This, like so many other stories, Zap Zone Defender offers a ray of hope through the pandemic - showcasing that the human thoughts and spirit can overcome something - especially when working collectively for a fantastic trigger. Afterall, because the well-known philosopher Plato understood 1000's of years ago, Zap Zone Defender necessity is the mother of invention. Founded in 1872, St. Luke's University Health Network (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit community of greater than 15,000 employees offering companies at 11 hospitals and Zap Zone Defender Experience 300 outpatient sites. With annual internet income better than $2 billion, Zap Zone Defender Review the Network’s service area consists of 11 counties: Zap Zone Defender Experience Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Zap Zone Defender Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey.