Development and Demonstration of a Wireless Ultraviolet Sensing Network for Dose Monitoring and Operator Safety in Room Disinfection Applications
The use of mobile ultraviolet-C (UV-C) disinfection devices for the decontamination of surfaces in hospitals and other settings has increased dramatically in recent years. The efficacy of these devices relies on the UV-C dose they deliver to surfaces. This dose is dependent on the room layout, the s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-02-01
|
| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/5/2493 |
| _version_ | 1827752153945473024 |
|---|---|
| author | Michael F. Cullinan Robert Scott Joe Linogao Hannah Bradwell Leonie Cooper Conor McGinn |
| author_facet | Michael F. Cullinan Robert Scott Joe Linogao Hannah Bradwell Leonie Cooper Conor McGinn |
| author_sort | Michael F. Cullinan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of mobile ultraviolet-C (UV-C) disinfection devices for the decontamination of surfaces in hospitals and other settings has increased dramatically in recent years. The efficacy of these devices relies on the UV-C dose they deliver to surfaces. This dose is dependent on the room layout, the shadowing, the position of the UV-C source, lamp degradation, humidity and other factors, making it challenging to estimate. Furthermore, since UV-C exposure is regulated, personnel in the room must not be exposed to UV-C doses beyond occupational limits. We proposed a systematic method to monitor the UV-C dose administered to surfaces during a robotic disinfection procedure. This was achieved using a distributed network of wireless UV-C sensors that provide real-time measurements to a robotic platform and operator. These sensors were validated for their linearity and cosine response. To ensure operators could safely remain in the area, a wearable sensor was incorporated to monitor the UV-C exposure of an operator, and it provided an audible warning upon exposure and, if necessary, ceased the UV-C emission from the robot. Enhanced disinfection procedures could then be conducted as items in the room could be rearranged during the procedure to maximise the UV-C fluence delivered to otherwise inaccessible surfaces while allowing UVC disinfection to occur in parallel with traditional cleaning. The system was tested for the terminal disinfection of a hospital ward. During the procedure, the robot was manually positioned in the room by the operator repeatedly, who then used feedback from the sensors to ensure the desired UV-C dose was achieved while also conducting other cleaning tasks. An analysis verified the practicality of this disinfection methodology while highlighting factors which could affect its adoption. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:10:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b6c51c3488e14b98946405c2955f8305 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:10:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-b6c51c3488e14b98946405c2955f83052023-11-17T08:35:33ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202023-02-01235249310.3390/s23052493Development and Demonstration of a Wireless Ultraviolet Sensing Network for Dose Monitoring and Operator Safety in Room Disinfection ApplicationsMichael F. Cullinan0Robert Scott1Joe Linogao2Hannah Bradwell3Leonie Cooper4Conor McGinn5Akara Robotics Ltd., D08 TCV4 Dublin, IrelandAkara Robotics Ltd., D08 TCV4 Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, IrelandFaculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UKFaculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UKAkara Robotics Ltd., D08 TCV4 Dublin, IrelandThe use of mobile ultraviolet-C (UV-C) disinfection devices for the decontamination of surfaces in hospitals and other settings has increased dramatically in recent years. The efficacy of these devices relies on the UV-C dose they deliver to surfaces. This dose is dependent on the room layout, the shadowing, the position of the UV-C source, lamp degradation, humidity and other factors, making it challenging to estimate. Furthermore, since UV-C exposure is regulated, personnel in the room must not be exposed to UV-C doses beyond occupational limits. We proposed a systematic method to monitor the UV-C dose administered to surfaces during a robotic disinfection procedure. This was achieved using a distributed network of wireless UV-C sensors that provide real-time measurements to a robotic platform and operator. These sensors were validated for their linearity and cosine response. To ensure operators could safely remain in the area, a wearable sensor was incorporated to monitor the UV-C exposure of an operator, and it provided an audible warning upon exposure and, if necessary, ceased the UV-C emission from the robot. Enhanced disinfection procedures could then be conducted as items in the room could be rearranged during the procedure to maximise the UV-C fluence delivered to otherwise inaccessible surfaces while allowing UVC disinfection to occur in parallel with traditional cleaning. The system was tested for the terminal disinfection of a hospital ward. During the procedure, the robot was manually positioned in the room by the operator repeatedly, who then used feedback from the sensors to ensure the desired UV-C dose was achieved while also conducting other cleaning tasks. An analysis verified the practicality of this disinfection methodology while highlighting factors which could affect its adoption.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/5/2493disinfection robotIOT sensorhealthcarebluetooth low energy (BLE)ultraviolet (UV) disinfectionsafety |
| spellingShingle | Michael F. Cullinan Robert Scott Joe Linogao Hannah Bradwell Leonie Cooper Conor McGinn Development and Demonstration of a Wireless Ultraviolet Sensing Network for Dose Monitoring and Operator Safety in Room Disinfection Applications Sensors disinfection robot IOT sensor healthcare bluetooth low energy (BLE) ultraviolet (UV) disinfection safety |
| title | Development and Demonstration of a Wireless Ultraviolet Sensing Network for Dose Monitoring and Operator Safety in Room Disinfection Applications |
| title_full | Development and Demonstration of a Wireless Ultraviolet Sensing Network for Dose Monitoring and Operator Safety in Room Disinfection Applications |
| title_fullStr | Development and Demonstration of a Wireless Ultraviolet Sensing Network for Dose Monitoring and Operator Safety in Room Disinfection Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development and Demonstration of a Wireless Ultraviolet Sensing Network for Dose Monitoring and Operator Safety in Room Disinfection Applications |
| title_short | Development and Demonstration of a Wireless Ultraviolet Sensing Network for Dose Monitoring and Operator Safety in Room Disinfection Applications |
| title_sort | development and demonstration of a wireless ultraviolet sensing network for dose monitoring and operator safety in room disinfection applications |
| topic | disinfection robot IOT sensor healthcare bluetooth low energy (BLE) ultraviolet (UV) disinfection safety |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/5/2493 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michaelfcullinan developmentanddemonstrationofawirelessultravioletsensingnetworkfordosemonitoringandoperatorsafetyinroomdisinfectionapplications AT robertscott developmentanddemonstrationofawirelessultravioletsensingnetworkfordosemonitoringandoperatorsafetyinroomdisinfectionapplications AT joelinogao developmentanddemonstrationofawirelessultravioletsensingnetworkfordosemonitoringandoperatorsafetyinroomdisinfectionapplications AT hannahbradwell developmentanddemonstrationofawirelessultravioletsensingnetworkfordosemonitoringandoperatorsafetyinroomdisinfectionapplications AT leoniecooper developmentanddemonstrationofawirelessultravioletsensingnetworkfordosemonitoringandoperatorsafetyinroomdisinfectionapplications AT conormcginn developmentanddemonstrationofawirelessultravioletsensingnetworkfordosemonitoringandoperatorsafetyinroomdisinfectionapplications |