LightStrike is a robot that uses ultraviolet light to kill coronavirus in less than 5 minutes, making it the new best hope when it comes to disinfecting public spaces. Xenex Disinfection Services created it, and it was successfully tested, and the results show its effectiveness in killing coronavirus, also called COVID-19.
The LightStrike robot was sold by a Japanese medical equipment maker and distributor, Terumo. It emits 200 to 315 nanometers of ultraviolet light to decontaminate surfaces and objects.
The test results show that UV radiation renders pathogens too damaged to cause any harm after two or three 5-minute rounds of UV light. Meanwhile, it takes around 20 minutes for LightStrike to kill germs in a room. The robot has also been successful in combating drug-resistant bacteria, including Ebola.
On N95 masks, the robot destroyed 99.9% of germs and bacteria, including coronavirus, lowering the risk of infection when one has to reuse protective gear. What’s more, the robot utilizes cloud-based technology to send out reports so that they can be analyzed.
After the successful tests, the robot has been rolled out to five hundred healthcare facilities around the world. One LightStrike robot costs around US$140,000, according to Nikkei Asian Review.