On the CTIA pavilion (hall 15, booth E04) at the Medica tradefair in Dusseldorf, Germany (20-23 November), ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV LED) maker Sensor Electronic Technology Inc (SETi) of Columbia, SC, USA is introducing a new line of disinfection cases for phones, tablet computers and other mobile devices. Using SETi’s UV LEDs, the disinfection cases are reckoned to be the world’s first fully portable disinfection units and are designed to be carried with the mobile device as a protective case as well as a disinfection system.
The units can be used by anyone, however SETi is targeting healthcare workers initially, in a bid to reduce hospital acquired infections (HAIs).
HAIs affect more than a million people a year in the USA alone and are linked to nearly 100,000 US deaths according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 50% of healthcare workers admit to using mobile devices during direct physical contact with patents, yet only 8% say that they actually clean them. According to Hospital and Health Networks, 65% of doctors believe that increased use of mobile devices in the healthcare environment is leading to the spread of disease.
SETi says that the new disinfection cases are easy to use: the device can simply put back in its protective case and the disinfection process starts automatically, removing more than 99.9% of germs it is reckoned. Powered by a rechargeable battery, the portable cases can be taken anywhere that a mobile device is normally taken. Recharging is via a mini-USB.
