Germ-free indoor air critical in healthcare: Clinics, doctors' surgeries, pharmacies and care facilities

Infectious aerosols as a critical quantity in closed rooms: The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 keeps Germany and the world on tenterhooks. In doctors' surgeries, pharmacies and care facilities, staff, visitors and patients are currently exposed to a higher risk of infection than usual. A new type of filter technology ensures sustainably clean air.

The transmission of the novel coronaviruses is known to occur mainly via droplet infection; infection via smear infections is considered secondary, but also possible. The spread of viruses in the form of infectious aerosols was already proven in 2015 by the Université Laval in Québec on the basis of the norovirus as well as in a current study from 2020 conducted by the National Institute of Health in the USA and confirmed by scientists from Princeton University and the University of California. According to this study, corona viruses remain viable in the air for up to 3 hours after aerosolisation and thus pose an acute risk of infection for all people in waiting areas, outpatient clinics, practices and hospitals.

In intensive test phases, the effectiveness and application advantages of photocatalytic filter technology could be conclusively proven. The Japanese Kitasato Institute for Medial Research and the South Korean Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology confirm that E. coli, salmonella, bacteriophages, rotaviruses, noroviruses, influenza and coronaviruses are either destroyed or rendered harmless by 99.9%. This applies to MERS coronaviruses, SARS coronaviruses and as confirmed by the South Korean research institute KICT, the photocatalytic filter eliminates the novel corona virus SARS-CoV-2 (formerly named "HCoV-19").

The AiroDoctor is a compact and powerful air purifier with industrial quality. It is equipped with a quadruple filter combination and uses pre-filters, activated carbon and HEPA filters to adsorb 99.9% of all pollutant particles, gases, odours, bacteria and viruses. The fourth filter in the AiroDoctor is an innovative UV-LED photocatalysis filter that decomposes and neutralises the particles accumulated in the filters. This happens without harmful residues, sustainably and in an environmentally friendly way.

The AiroDoctor, due to its fine-pored structure, not only keeps particles of the classification PM2.5 (diameter < 0.1 µm), but also the airflow longer inside the device. The intentionally increased residence time thus ensures a higher and more effective irradiation time of the substances to be destroyed.

The photocatalytic filter in the AiroDoctor is not only coated, it consists of 250g solid titanium oxide (TiO2). This makes it the only filter of its kind and its large surface effect makes it particularly low-wearing and durable. The AiroDoctor is suitable for all types of facilities: Hospitals, doctors' surgeries, laboratories, retirement homes and nurseries, offices and shops. One AiroDoctor is sufficient for premises with a floor area of 200sqm.