The PACID system aims to shield portable electronic devices (such as phones, pagers, etc.) from surface contamination while maintaining access to its features (touchscreen, buttons, microphone, loudspeaker). For this, the PACID system introduces a disposable plastic containment around the device before entering the contaminated space. After leaving the infectious environment, the plastic containment is removed from the phone with a bag opener and stored in a sluice until it is retrieved by the user.
Intended purpose
The system intends to address an unmet need in healthcare: Healthcare professionals often communicate with portable devices, such as smartphones. However, when entering spaces with infectious contamination like rooms with patients harboring the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, these devices cannot be used. At the same time, healthcare professionals need to be available continuously, hence being reachable by phone is essential for uninterrupted operation of a hospital. Using these devices by healthcare professionals in an infectious environment risks surface contamination and export of infectious agents to the outside world, potentially putting healthy people at risk. Wiping the surfaces of these devices with a disinfectant is an option; however, it was shown that this way, infectious agents are not eliminated sufficiently (Murgier et al. 2016 Orthop Traumatol Surg Res). At the same time, portable electric devices also harbor opportunistic germs putting high-risk patients in danger (Kirkby et al. 2016, Adv Neonatal Care).
In summary, the unmet need is being able to use portable electric devices in contaminated spaces, while avoiding the risk of exposing the surface of the particular device. The PACID system aims to shield portable electronic devices from surface contamination, and from serving as carriers of germs towards high–risk patients. The PACID system seeks to do so while maintaining access to the features of the portable electric device (operating buttons and touch screen). The PACID system introduces a disposable plastic containment around the device before entering the contaminated space. The plastic containment allows for using the device’s features while in the contaminated areas. When leaving the contaminated environment, the PACID system applies a two-step approach of removing the plastic containment from the phone and storing the phone in a sluice until it is retrieved by the user.
Project Team
- Daniel Kirschenbaum
Lead (medical) and product owner - Daniel Omidvarkarjan
Lead (engineering) and scrum master - David Ochsner
CAD - Daniele Cipriano
CAD - Harry Woodfin
Animations and Videos - Ralph Rosenbauer
Communications
More on the project behind this solution: Communication in Infectious Environments
For inquiries on this solution, please contact: Daniel Kirschenbaum