UV Air Filter for Ventilators to treat COVID-19 Patients

Mohammed Ishag is a Sudanese inventor and designer who loves inventing new devices and solving problems using his engineering design skills. Mohammed participated in ennomotive's ICU Ventilators for COVID-19 Challenge with a very strong design for a new ventilator. This UV air filter is one of the multiple projects that Mohammed is working on to fight COVID-19. At present, he is trying to launch a startup company with other partners to launch different devices and help hospitals and doctors fight against the pandemic.

A UV Air filter for ventilators

How does UVC disinfection work?

Ultraviolet (UV) light is a component of the electromagnetic spectrum that falls in the region between visible light and X-Rays. As made evident by multiple research studies and reports, when biological organisms are exposed to deep UV light in the range of 200 nm to 300 nm, it is absorbed by DNA, RNA, and proteins. Absorption by proteins can lead to the rupture of cell walls and the death of the organism. Absorption by DNA or RNA (specially ¾ by thymine bases) is known to cause inactivation of the DNA or RNA double helix strands through the formation of thymine dimers. If enough of these dimers are created in DNA, the DNA replication process is disrupted, and the cell cannot replicate.

UVC Air Tube Filter

Scientists have known for decades that broad-spectrum UVC light, which has a wavelength of between 200 to 400 nanometers (nm), is highly effective at killing bacteria and viruses by destroying the molecular bonds that hold their DNA together. This conventional UV light is routinely used to decontaminate surgical equipment.  Far-UVC light has a very limited range and cannot penetrate through the outer dead-cell layer of human skin or the tear layer in the eye, so it is not a human health issue.

Using UVC LEDs for Disinfection to Fight COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

COVID-19 has prompted researchers, manufacturers, and consumers alike to search for practical solutions that can prevent the spread of this deadly virus. Our high-performance UVC LEDs are very interesting for disinfection, especially to potentially combat the virus. This article provides answers to common questions about UVC solutions for disinfection and COVID-19. The same technology is applied in many places like hospitals and public areas, to kill microorganisms and disinfect spaces and objects.

The UV Air Filter Design

This device is one of four projects that I am currently working on, such as Robomask, Turbovent, UV Air Filter, and Robocast. My team just finished building the prototype for Robomask and Robocast. Our ultimate goal is to start a company and launch all these products.   The UV Air Filter is a new type of filter for ventilators. Many parts can be made using 3D printing and assembled very easily. This technology has the ability to filter the air from inside and outside the tube. LED lights work on the sanitizing process through the whole tube. The exhausted air is riddled with germs and viruses drawn from inside the patient lungs. Most ventilators have the ability to recycle the air within the same device or use another way to let it out without affecting the patients. Our design is a UV Air filter for ventilators, which uses Ultra-Violet technology lights to clean the air that comes through. Layout design
The UV Air Filter has connections on both sides and UV lights inside to filter and disinfect the air that goes through the tube. This device uses and applies clean air, and recycles all the air that goes through it. The exhausted air can be safely released with no risk for the people around the ventilator. This air filter can replace a commercial one and its design fits tubes of all sizes. My team and I are currently working on a new design for a ventilator that only uses one air filter. Device Construction
Where the UV Air filter is located within the ventilator
The air that comes out of the lungs is filtered through the UV Air filter and, once it is clean, it can be recycled for ventilation or exhausted. This is a simple way of removing all the small airborne hazards and viruses the air may contain before either recycling or disposing of it. The design of the filter can be adjusted to the shape and dimensions required by the ventilator. The UV Air filter can be integrated either inside or outside the ventilator or be used as an extra filtering gadget. Also, this filter can be connected with other types of devices to add more filtration layers and gain more protection. If you want to read more about innovative medical devices and ventilators, check out ennomotive’s blog and discover what ennomotive can do for you.  Join the engineering community