PathogenXOven
Carleigh Coffin, Ashlyn Soule, Pierce Carrouth, and Delphine Dean
Introduction
The PathogenXOven is a box that would be located at grocery
store checkout lines. The groceries would run through the machine
on the conveyor belt and be exposed to ultraviolet (UV-C)
light before being handled by cashiers.
UV-C light is often used as a disinfecting
agent because it can deactivate viruses, bacteria, and other microbes
without having to physically touch the infected surface. UV-C
deactivates about 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. This method also
takes little effort and time. We expect products to run through the
box for about 30 seconds to be decontaminated.
Technology Description
The PathogenXOven is a sanitization device that will be located
at grocery store checkout lanes. PathogenXOven uses 22 mJ/cm2
UV-C light to offer 99.9% effective sanitization of surfaces.
UV-C is a type of ultraviolet light with a short wavelength that
damages the molecular structure of pathogens
such as bacteria and viruses.
UV-C prevents germs from reproducing by
breaking down its genetic material.
UV-C is much safer than using liquid, alcohol-based sanitizers or
bleach to disinfect groceries because
UV-C light is chemical free and food safe.
The PathogneXOven integrates easily into the normal grocery
store experience: The customer will load the cart onto the conveyor belt.
The groceries will pass through the PathogenXOven. Finally,
The sanitized items will exit the PathogenXOven
and the cashier will continue to scan and bag the groceries. The
UV-C lamp used in PathogenXOven is
fully contained within the walls
so that it is safe for customers and employees
to stand next to it during checkout.
The aluminum walls and thick rubber flaps ensure
that UV-C light is not leaked out of the PathogenXOven.
The mirrored internal surfaces are
engineered with a smooth geometry to
allow for uniformed UV-C light coverage in
the chamber area. The initial prototype of PathogenXOven
cost a total of $221.80 in materials to construct.
Our goal is to market the
PathogenXOven at $400, which would give us a
profit of $178.20 for each PathogenXOven
sold. New testing from Signify and Boston
University suggests that exposure of a UVC dose
similar to what the PathogenXOven uses for 25
seconds will inactivate SARS-CoV-2 with over 99.99% efficacy.
Value/Impact
Even in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic trips to
the grocery store are still essential.
United States grocery stores average 29 to 41 million
shoppers per day.
A cashier working an 8 hour shift will check out
hundreds of customers.
Cashiers and grocery baggers handle items touched by a
large number of customers. For instance, viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2 can
live on surfaces anywhere from hours to days.
The PathogenXOven can protect our essential workers in grocery
stores as well as customers and reduce the community spread
of diseases like the flu, norovirus, and COVID-19.
There are an estimated 40,000 grocery stores located
in the United States.
The PathogenXOven has the ability to make a large and
lasting impact by
protecting grocery store workers and customers during
essential trips to the grocery store.
Prototype
Continued Testing
We are actively working to determine the optimal timing
and speed of the grocery belt through the PathogenXOven
that will be needed to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 and other
pathogens on model grocery surfaces while not disrupting
the standard flow of the checkout process. In order to
determine the optimal timing and speed of the grocery
belt through the PathogenXOven, a luminescent synthetic
virus similar in structure to SARS-CoV-2 will be used. We
will test the virus underneath the UV-C light for varying
lengths of time to determine the optimal length of time
needed to inactivate. In the future we would also like to
test PathogenXOven’s ability to sanitize surfaces against other pathogens.
News Articles
Our work has been featured in the following press releases and news articles:
https://newsstand.clemson.edu/
https://greenvillejournal.com/
https://www.wyff4.com/article/
https://wpde.com/news/local/
https://www.foxcarolina.com/
https://www.newsbreak.com/
http://www.
https://abcnews4.com/news/
https://www.
