Our Accomplishments

Efforts to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections Leads to New Technology

Success Story

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are the most common complication of hospital care, occurring in approximately one in every 20 patients. Treating HAId costs U.S. hospitals as much as 445 billion annually. HSSC has been working for several years to develop novel products that enable prevention avoidance of infectious disease. Since late 2012, this effort, led by HSSC Chief Economic Development Officer Michael Randall, has resulted in six idea disclosures, five provisional patent applications, one utility patent application, and one technology license agreement.

HSSC has developed technologies to address potential sources of contamination in healthcare facilities. The first intervention addresses contamination transference via privacy curtains. “Clean Shield” dispenses sanitary sheets and acts as a sterile handle at the edge of the privacy curtain. This invention has U.S. and International patent pending status. The second invention, “Sani-Switch,” addresses contamination transference via light switches, elevator buttons, and the like, using germicidal ultraviolet illumination (GUVI) to ensure a disinfected switch contact surface. The third invention addresses the need for local sanitization of devices such as blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, and examination lights. This invention has U.S. and In ternational patent pending status. The fourth invention, “Sani-Sock,” addresses contamination of handheld devices with user interfaces, such as remote controls. It uses antimicrobial treated fabric to physically and chemically separate people from contamination that is resident on most handheld electronic devices.

Snapshot

Accomplishment Data

Theme:
  • Advancement
Focus:
  • Clinicians
    Health Care Systems
    Communities
    Consumers
    Research Organizations
    Researchers