How conceptual product design helps to fight against viruses?

How do you protect yourself from coronavirus? Wearing a mask? Social distancing? Staying at home? All these methods are nice, but how to be sure you are protected?

Various outbreaks of epidemics show us the main problem: keeping the borders between the “clean” and “dirty” zones. We consulted with epidemiologists who gave us an understanding of the problems of preventing the spreading of viruses.

If we consider the locations of the emergence of epidemiologically dirty zones, then several types can be distinguished:

facilities with increased probability of infection (hospitals, departments inside hospitals, livestock farms)
unpredictable areas (plants and other similar workplaces).

Our clothing and other similar surfaces are the main transporters of viruses, spores, and bacteria when we are moving from one zone to another.

The problem of keeping the boundary between “dirty” and “clean” zones is also the observance of the technology of barrier disinfection:

the inability of moving in the backward direction
maintaining exposure time at the moment of disinfection
compliance with safety measures

Prevention and protective measures are low-effective in crowded areas.

How do we try to solve this problem?

We have developed the concept of a sluice disinfection barrier, which allows us to control the flow of people, as well as disinfect in space with aerosols, cold fog or gases.

In addition to the issue of ensuring epidemiological safety, the effectiveness of the solution is important — the speed of deployment of the system.

During developing the concept of the device, we took into account the features of environments in which a disinfection barrier can be built. According to our concept, the barrier is adapted to specific conditions and situations, that is, it must be presented both mobile and stationary. As well as each of them can have versions of the entrance space implemented by the door, PVC curtains, and an air curtain.

The barrier consists of:

Passage portal with ramps;
Control systems with monitor and loudspeaker, sensors of presence and control of internal environment;
External control traffic light;
Nozzle and spray systems;
Ventilation and air injection systems;
Active substance supply systems;
For the design with the door, door opening and locking mechanism, with emergency unlocking;
The emergency button of device shutdown;
External circuit of sealing membrane connection.

Also, the elements forming the disinfection barrier are clearly shown in the images below:

After studying the safety problems in case of emergency situations, we came to the conclusion: the system should have an emergency mode for emergency evacuation (for example, fire, earthquake).

The concept of a fast-building structure was developed. We propose to use inflatable frames in the solution.

As intended, the system should involve installation in corridors, but there may also be fixed sluices.

To block the overflow of air from the dirty to the clean zone, the inner space has overpressure. Aerosols, cold fog or gases are used as disinfectants.

We also consulted with allergists, who identified the risk of mass disinfection of people — this is the possibility of allergic reactions when the skin and mucous membranes come into contact with a disinfectant.

Given these risks, we do not recommend using this system in places of uncontrolled mass flow of people. This system is suitable for places where the presence or absence of allergic reactions to disinfectants is well-known.

Currently, the disinfection barrier is at the stage of the concept, which can be started at any time.

Images: Alexey Shimchik
Text: Verdesta team

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