Professor Tim
Leighton with StarStream device
(September 16, 2015) Researchers
from the University of Southampton have demonstrated how a pioneering
ultrasonic device can significantly improve the cleaning of medical instruments
and reduce contamination and risk of infection.
StarStream, invented and patented by the University of
Southampton and in commercial production by Ultrawave Ltd., makes water more
efficient for cleaning by creating tiny bubbles which automatically scrub
surfaces. The device supplies a gentle stream of water through a nozzle that generates
ultrasound and bubbles, which dramatically improve the cleaning power of water
reducing the need for additives and heating.
Using just cold water, StarStream was able to remove
biological contamination, including brain tissue from surgical steel. Cleaning
instruments between patients is critical to avoid transmission of agents
leading to conditions such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. It was also able to
remove bacterial biofilms that typically cause dental disease and was effective
at removing soft tissue from bones, which is required prior to transplants to
prevent rejection of the transplanted material by the recipient’s immune
system.
Principal Investigator Professor Tim Leighton, from the
University’s Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, said: “In the absence
of sufficient cleaning of medical instruments, contamination and infection can
result in serious consequences for the health sector and remains a significant
challenge. Our highly-effective cleaning device, achieved with cold water and
without the need for chemical additives or the high power consumption
associated with conventional strategies, has the potential to meet this
challenge and transform the sector.”