In July, a Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene study found healthcare workers' cell phones and mobile devices are some of the dirtiest, bacteria-harboring objects that pass through hospitals. New research published in Plasma Medicine outlines a cold plasma technology that may help mitigate some of the risks of carrying such dirty devices by completely disinfecting cell phones, and other medical devices, in only 10 minutes.
Typically, medical equipment is sterilized using pressurized steam or gas, both of which are unusable for medical devices with electronic components. The new cleaning method, developed by researchers from New York-based Weill Cornell Medicine, uses a cold plasma system that is safe for disinfecting electronics and requires only air, hydrogen peroxide and a power source.
Phones treated for five minutes using the technology reflected a 93 percent reduction in bacteria, according to the study. Devices that underwent a10-minute disinfection were completely bacteria-free.
The researchers are planning to test the device's cold plasma disinfection technology on medical devices such as tablets, medical monitors, laptops and other hospital-based electronics. The device is currently available on a limited commercial basis in the U.S. and is pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration.