Grantee Research Project Results
Human Safe, Near-Field Infection Protection (NIP) for Continuous Pathogen Inactivation in Air and on Surfaces
EPA Contract Number: 68HERC22C0017Title: Human Safe, Near-Field Infection Protection (NIP) for Continuous Pathogen Inactivation in Air and on Surfaces
Investigators: Rasansky, Richard
Small Business: XCMR Inc
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: December 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022
Project Amount: $99,771
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I (2022) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Homeland Security , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has exposed weaknesses in society’s ability to rapidly respond to a global public health problem. SARS-CoV-2 and variants are highly contagious and can cause mild to extremely severe disease and death. It is believed that the main route for transmission is aerosol droplets naturally discharged from an infected person. XCMR is developing breakthrough respiratory protection from infectious diseases and infection control for pathogens by commercializing a new generation of devices for safe, continuous use utilizing Far UV-C light (222 nm). This shorter wavelength offers effective microbialdisinfection typically associated with conventional germicidal UVC lamps (254 nm) but without the corresponding human health hazards since it does not penetrate the human skin or outer tear layers of the eye. While some companies are using UVC to treat indoor environments, none are focused on protection devices for an individual’s personal workspace. Expected uses of XCMR’s Near-field Infection Protection (NIP) device include biosafety protection during interpersonal interactions in a variety of stationary settings found generally in offices, schools, healthcare, hospitality, retail, transportation and many others. Not only is this is estimated to be a $65+b market opportunity but is also expected to greatly reduce environmental waste from single-use masks, lower incidence and prevalence of respiratory disease (e.g., flu, RSV, hMPV), have potential as a universal safety device akin to seat belts for public health, and be far more capital and time efficient than medical countermeasures (i.e., antibiotics and vaccines).
XCMR has assembled a highly experienced team of experts to incorporate this novel technology into a versatile desktop device for the personal protection (e.g., inactivation of microbes present on surfaces and in air surrounding the face and eyes) of those individuals within the controlled irradiation zone created and defined by the placement of the NIP unit. In Phase I, using existing commercial 222 nm excimer light sources from our OEM partner, Eden Park Illumination (EPI), XCMR will design, model, test and deliver a proof of concept (PoC) device that integrates various form-factors of geometry and exposure to achieve rapid microbial inactivation during respiration within the confined near-field spacial environment surrounding an individual. Each iteration of the test plan will be evaluated and optimized for microbial inactivation of surrogate viruses and for efficacy in real world conditions. A PoC prototype of the optimum design will be produced by the end of Phase I.
Progress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.