SUMMARY: UCLA researchers in the Departments of Surgery and Bioengineering have developed a device to sterilize septic blood with ultra violet light.
BACKGROUND: The overuse of antibiotics by the agricultural sector has led to an exponential rise in the number of infections that are resistant to traditional antimicrobial agents. Numerous devices have been created to manage the infection load of bacterial and viral infections, which may lead to systemic inflammatory response and health complications. Current devices work through displacement by using an antimicrobial solution to wash infected biomass out of affected tissues. Other methods use hostile conditions such as temperature to displace and reduce biomass. However, these methods are incompatible with infections that progress to septic levels, which occurs when the infection breaks the tissue barrier and propagates freely in the blood. Therefore, there is a clear need to develop technologies that can reduce the biomass of infections within the blood that can lead to systemic infection.
INNOVATION: Researchers of the Department of Surgery and Bioengineering have developed a UV-based device that can kill bacteria and viruses within the blood. The device was designed to be compatible for dialysis, external oxygenation systems, as well as intravenous applications. This technology offers promise in the treatment of multiple infectious pathogens responsible for inflammatory problems.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
ADVANTAGES:
DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE: A full written description has been completed.