Thiruvananthapuram: Two scientists with the Medical Instrumentation department of Sree Chitra Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram have come up with a ‘disinfection gateway‘, in an attempt to check the spread of novel coronavirus, which is grappling the whole world.
As the name suggests, the gateway is a special entrance way set up to disinfect each and every person passing through it, thus helping prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Developed by Jithin Krishnan and V V Subhash, scientists with the Medical Instrumentation, the special gateway has a fumigating system which uses hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet disinfection equipment as main components to do the process of sanitisation.
While the hydrogen peroxide fumes sanitize the person’s hands, body, and dress, the ultraviolet disinfectant system continuously keeps the chamber sterile.
Read:Kerala awaits relaxation of blood donation norms to kickstart plasma therapy
The sensors on the gateway will automatically sense the entry of a person and trigger the fumigation process. By the time the person walks through the entrance chamber, the disinfection process will be complete.
The system is developed in such a way that the ultraviolet lights are activated as soon as the person exits to sterilise the chamber. The next person can enter the chamber after a stipulated time. The process within takes about 40 seconds. The gateway's chamber has glass panels on its sides so that the process can be monitored from outside. Sree Chitra Disinfection Gateway can sanitize only one person passing through at a time.
Another system, named ‘Chitra UV based face mask disposal bin’, has also been developed for disposing of used face masks, without worrying about infecting someone else who handles the waste. This system also works based on disinfection technique using ultraviolet rays.
Sree Chitra Institute has received the Indian Council of Medical Research's nod for clinical trials using convalescent plasma therapy in COVID-19 treatment, the first of its kind in India. Final approvals from the Drugs Controller of India is awaited to begin clinical trials in Kerala.
