TBU Scientists Help Rid Hospitals of Germs
29. January 2019Sanitize healthcare facilities from unwanted microorganisms and other harmful substances within several seconds? Though this may sound rather utopian today, it may soon become quite a common practice thanks to the cooperation between Czech and Slovenian researchers. Scientists from the Centre of Polymer Systems (CPS) of Tomas Bata University in Zlín (TBU) and Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI) in Ljubljana have constructed a device that effectively generates ultraviolet (UV) radiation. TBU and JSI jointly obtained a European patent for the invention at the end of 2018.
According to one of the inventors, Assoc. Prof. Marián Lehocký: “When you use a common source of UV radiation, the sterilization procedure takes a few dozens of minutes; the device that we have developed is able to sterilize the environment in several seconds. It is a breakthrough discovery in the sphere of sterilization.” The device may be used also in other areas, for example, in the polymer hardening process.
The good news from research may be inspiring also for future students. “This year we are launching a new Bachelor’s course focused on biomaterials at the Faculty of Technology. Successful graduates of this degree course may participate in similar research projects in future,” says Assoc. Prof. Lehocký.
“By patenting the device that generates UV radiation, TBU has gained three patent protections in Europe over six years and other patent applications are being processed,” adds Ing. Dana Kreizlová from the Patent and Licence Office of the TBU Technology Transfer Centre, who – as a European patent officer – deals with patent applications submitted by TBU to the European Patent Office. Nevertheless, the authors of the new patent are for the first time experts from the Centre of Polymer Systems. In 2016 the University obtained patent also in the USA.