Development of Miniature Far UV-C Microplasma lamps with improved safety factors for Personal Protective Respirators

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a global public health problem that threatens virtually every segment of society. This pandemic is caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which is highly contagious and can cause severe respiratory problems, as well as other adverse human health effects. SARS- CoV-2 transmission is believed to be primarily associated with aerosols that are discharged from the human mouth and nose as a result of coughing, sneezing, or even talking. Eden Park Illumination has developed and introduced a new generation of Far UV-C light sources (222 nm) using the low-temperature microcavity plasma technology (thanks to the support from a previous DOE SBIR program). This UV excimer microplasma technology is at least as efficient as conventional germicidal UV lamps in killing bacteria and viruses without the corresponding human health hazards. The shorter wavelengths of Far UV-C cannot penetrate the germinative layer of human skin or outer tear layers of the eye. Hence, Far UV-C (222 nm) has been used during the pandemic to reduce airborne transmission of pathogens, especially in various occupied indoor environments. Eden Park Illumination and XCMR, Inc., formed a team to develop a novel, re-useable, wearable (battery-powered) protective device that uses Far UV-C to inactivate microorganisms. The device will position the Far UV-C microplasma lamps around the face to allow real-time inactivation of microbes during respiration. By irradiating the air during inhalation and exhalation, our device will not only protect the wearer from pathogenic microbes, it will also protect others from any infectious agents exhaled by the subject wearing the device. Under the Phase I program, the Eden Park/XCMR team successfully achieved the goals of acquiring a miniature microplasma lamp with improved performance, a design of the proof-of-concept personal protective device, the first working prototype demonstration (and several other device designs being prepared in parallel), and experimental investigation on the dosage (intensity) required for inactivation of airborne pathogens. In Phase 2, based on the results obtained for elements from each task, we will further engineer the device(s) to provide protection equivalent to an N95 mask while maintaining the human safety factor. It is our intention to accelerate the commercialization efforts of the device and introduce a few samples to potential customers. The result will be a scaled production line of at least 5,000 systems per month before the Phase II program terminates.