‘3 Billion People in Lockdown. Let’s Hack The Future and Never Go Through This Again’ – the slogan of a world-renowned online hackathon ‘The Global Hack’. MedTech Startup MUVi made it into the top three finalists. The team frantically worked around the clock for 72 hours designing integrated disinfection technology with developers across the globe.
MUVi’s Recognition as a Medtech Finalist in The World’s Largest COVID-19 Hackathon
World-class mentors in public health and technology were pooled to challenge developers and designers around the world to solve problems linked with coronavirus. The event took place online, from the 9th to 12th of April 2020 with 18,000 participants, presenting more than 500 projects and ideas designed to help the world tackle the spread of COVID-19. “We only had a few days to design and build a prototype, but everyone has been very passionate in contributing their ideas and strategies,” said Murray McDonald, the director of Australian MedTech startup MUVi (Mobile UV Innovation P/L).
“Our team was addressing the risk of hospital acquired infections through highly contaminated, frequently touched surfaces. In particular, we focus on vulnerable patients with medical conditions within healthcare facilities. Having a digital monitoring and alert system can help to ensure equipment and rooms are regularly disinfected,” said McDonald. This wireless disinfection tracking sensor will ideally be applied in high-risk areas, including operating theatre, dialysis, oncology, and ICU.
Pioneering UV Disinfection Technology Making Waves in Pandemic Response
Recently, MUVi UV disinfection technology has been deployed in hospitals in Wuhan. It has been beneficial to medical workers who are using it for the disinfection of medical staff tea rooms, toilets, staff sleeping stations and even for the disinfection of medical staff protective clothing before removal. Inside the hospital, MUVi germicidal light technology is administering lethal disinfection doses to disinfect frequently touched surfaces including patient rooms, bathrooms and mobile medical equipment.
The 253.7-nanometer light blast targets microorganisms and destroys 99.99% of pathogens in a matter of minutes. An advantage of the MUVi germicidal disinfection process is that it is more efficient than regular human cleaning with liquids. It allows more time for medical workers to attend to more important duties, such as taking care of the patients.
“Imagine having the integrated sensor in place to give us real-time notifications on what has been cleaned and what hasn’t.” This will result in significant improvement of the medical disinfection system and prevent us from further outbreaks,” said McDonald.