While the researchers are busy formulating vaccines for coronavirus, innovative technology, artificial intelligence, and automation advancement are still in progress.
Revolutionary touchless systems are being introduced to create smart labs with hygienic and safe practices. But before this, we will discuss ways infection spread in labs and study centers. The article will also focus on how hand-wave and knocking technology is revolutionizing hygiene and safety in the medical industry.
HOW ARE INFECTIONS ACQUIRED IN THE LABORATORY?
In most cases, infectious agents and microorganisms enter your body through one or multiple routes outlined below:
- Inhaling aerosols, including microscopic liquid or solid particles that remain suspended or dispersed in the air for extended periods
- Ingestion
- Mucous membrane exposures such as your eyes, the genitals, or the inside of your mouth and nose
- Infectious agents in the environment
- Through acute injuries and cuts caused by needle sticks, syringes, and broken glass. They are also called parenteral exposure due to the source of contamination.
HOW DO AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS ASSIST RESEARCHERS?
A laboratory-acquired infection may occur due to an accident that releases a pathogenic or genetically modified organism. You can proactively combat these infections by using touchless technology. Integrating hand-wave and knocking technology eliminates the risk of contamination as you can avoid touching unclean surfaces, such as handles and levers.
Other touchless systems with sensor-activated systems help users turn on faucets and lights and are typically versatile and noiseless. At the same time, apps and voice assistants help lab managers and team members communicate effectively with each other. These interconnected tools replace lengthy email conversations and flip charts to ensure there are no communication gaps.
The addition of automatic systems in the laboratory makes it more efficient, hygienic, aesthetic, and time-saving. Moreover, the digitization of laboratories assists in accessing protocols that help share data effectively to electronically streamline work processes.
TRANSFORMING MEDICAL RESEARCH LABS WITH HAND-WAVE/KNOCKING TECHNOLOGY
Technological advancements improve the functionality and performance of medical research laboratories. They are more likely to include ‘shy technology’ systems that seamlessly integrate into day-to-day working practices.
These high-tech devices help simplify our everyday lives with complex mechanisms behind metal surfaces and touchscreens. Essential features of shy technology are as follows:
- Built-in processes
- Cumulative collaborations
- Generating real-time analytical data
- Remote technologies
- Smart controls
- Visualization technologies
Doctors and nurses continuously seek state-of-the-art systems that provide them with the necessary equipment to improve work performance. To streamline your lab work and make it more efficient, MacBick is introducing hand-wave and knocking technology.
This innovative tech allows lab managers to give vocal commands to lab furniture systems, including faucets and dispensers. In addition, simply waving your hand can assist you in opening and closing doors and cabinets. This helps simplify everyday tasks while lowering the risk of contamination.
ELIMINATING LABORATORY ACQUIRED INFECTIONS WITH TOUCHLESS TECHNOLOGY
By understanding the transmission process of infectious organisms, you can evaluate the risks and ways to prevent their spread. In healthcare environments, these microorganisms can spread in 3 different ways that are:
REDUCE CONTACT TRANSMISSION
It occurs due to direct (body-to-body) or indirect contact between a contaminated object and a human being.
In most cases, indirect transmission of infection is due to a contaminated body touching a surface. When this happens, the surface carries the germ and transfers it to a healthy body, thus becoming an indirect source of contamination.
Touchless technology includes hand-wave and knocking technology to ensure you don’t have to manually open doors, cabinets, faucets, and lights.
This reduces the chances of coming in contact with a surface that contains germs and prevents you from getting sick.
MITIGATE DROPLET TRANSMISSION
Our body liquids, such as saliva, secretion, and sweat, can also be a source of contamination. So, a person may transmit the disease by coughing, sneezing, talking, using the toilet, or simply sweating. These infections get transmitted via mucous membranes or conjunctivae of your mouth or nose.
While droplet contamination is a form of contact transmission, it also contaminates the surroundings as well. Using barriers to stop the spread of droplet transmission is an effective way of reducing infections in medical labs. By eliminating the need to touch contaminated surfaces with bacteria and other pathogens, you can decrease droplet transmission.
HINDER AIRBORNE TRANSMISSION
This kind of transmission occurs due to airborne respiratory nuclei. The nuclei are sources present in the air that the host then inhales and gets sick.
A good way of reducing airborne transmission is by practicing social and respiratory etiquette. In addition to this, using touchless faucets to wash your hands and dry them means that you don’t have to touch contaminated sinks, levers, etc.
THE BENEFITS OF HAND-WAVE/KNOCKING TECHNOLOGY IN MEDICAL RESEARCH LABS
Let’s discuss a couple of additional benefits of touchless technology in medical research labs:
AUTOMATION AND MINIATURIZING
Clinical laboratories often face funding pressure. To achieve financial stability, lab managers have to learn to use resources efficiently.
For this reason, manufacturers have been miniaturizing scientific instruments that lower reagent costs, increase instruments’ sensitivity and precision, and boost assay throughput.
Laboratory designers that have implemented this trend throughout their labs enjoy more productivity, cost savings and decrease bench length by a whopping 25% without interrupting workflow.
Miniaturizing may mean making a device smaller and compactor. It may also include designing a device vertically instead of horizontally. Both are effective ways of decreasing floor space and boosting productivity,
At the same time, automation in the laboratory ensures that instruments can conduct samples and analysis even while it’s left unattended. Integrating automation in a laboratory can improve workflow, turnaround time, testing capacities, and return visits.
REDUCED COSTS AND ENERGY SAVINGS
Hand-wave and knocking technology also brings several practical benefits to your lab. Since touchless technology is energy efficient, it helps reduce waste and costs. In addition, touchless technology helps maintain productivity while generating profit.
EXAMPLES THAT PROVE THE POINT
Over the past couple of years, many touchless technologies have been introduced. However, only a few were successful.
One example of hand-wave and knocking technology for residential customers is the seamless designs of kitchen appliances, cabinets, and fixtures by Miele, Moen, and Bauformat.
Miele’s ‘Knock 2 Open’ cabinets and other additional custom hand-wave cabinets eliminate the need to manually open and close cabinet doors multiple times. Ultimately, this can help lower the risk of contamination in homes.
On top of that, there are ‘Touch-to-open’ doors, ‘Handless Cabinets’ with sensors located underneath, and ‘Hands-free’ faucets, all prevent users from having to touch contaminated desks and surfaces. This helps minimize the spread of bacteria. Plus, touchless faucets help reduce water wastage by automatically closing whenever not being used.
Besides, lab freezers and instruments can be connected to the cloud or other internal servers to share data. This way, lab managers can check and monitor experiments from their mobile phones and receive necessary alerts.
THE BOTTOM LINE- EXPLORING NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO REINVENT MEDICAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES
The introduction of touchless technology in laboratories can reduce the transmission of infections and pathogens.
Hand-wave and knocking technology can help eliminate the need to manually open cabinets to take out gloves, chemicals, and other consumables. At the same time, apps and voice assistants help streamline everyday tasks and make them more efficient.
Modernize your medical research laboratory today by introducing hand-wave and knocking technology, voice assistants, digital instruments, and much more.
Connect with our specialists today to design and build the laboratory of your dreams. Here at MacBick our experts employ the best techniques to meet your requirements. Venture onto our website and contact us today!
