The Science of UV-C

UV-C light works by damaging the DNA and RNA of bacteria and viruses, halting their ability to spread and leading to the death of bacteria and the inactivation of viruses.

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For over a century, UV-C light has been used for disinfection.

UV systems were first used in hospitals in the 1930s1 to control infections. Studies in the 1940s found potential benefits of UV-C radiation in stopping the spread of measles2 in schools. In 1994, the CDC recognized UV-C's effectiveness in controlling TB3.

Mobility

Light travels in a straight line. Areas in shadow are not disinfected by a stationary UVC light source. Our mobile robot ensures complete coverage, moving around furniture and objects to eliminate germs and viruses hiding in shadowy spots of the room.

Effective Disinfection is a Function of Distance and Time.

The further away the light source, the more exposure time required to properly disinfect. Stationary UVC disinfection systems cannot get close to all the germ locations but our Haystack's robots continuously move along high touch surfaces to maximize disinfection.

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“No other curent technology has the capability, the adaptabilty, and the favorable economics to make it viable for an extremely wide variety of disease control applications.”4

1. Wells and Wells, 1936; 2. Perkins JE, Bahlke AM, Silverman HF. Effect of Ultra-violet Irradiation of Classrooms on Spread of Measles in Large Rural Central Schools Preliminary Report. Am J Public Health Nations Health. 1947 May;37(5):529-37. PMID: 18016521; PMCID: PMC1623610.; 3. Jensen PA, Lambert LA, Iademarco MF, Ridzon R; CDC. Guidelines for preventing the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in health-care settings, 2005. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2005 Dec 30;54(RR-17):1-141. PMID: 16382216. 4. Kowalski W, Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Handbook, Springer, 2009, 13