HEALTH
Light in the Fight Against Covid-19

“Tron: Legacy”, a science-fiction film dating from 2010, is not exactly the kind of source that is often quoted in scientific research. Nevertheless, the movie has a scene that served Reiner Prohaska as the inspiration for a promising form of treatment in the fight against the SARS-CoV-2 viruses – a wall of UV-C light. Currently still in the pipeline, as of April 2022 the product will be ready to go into production, only 18 months after project launch. The founder of technology company Smart United has succeeded, together with the scientists at the LMU Hospital in Munich and Technische Universität Munich, in developing this protective wall against viruses. “It was a technical challenge to direct the light path in a parallel direction so that there would not be any scattered radiation,” explains Prohaska.

The starting point for the technology is a rectangular box that can be installed unobtrusively on the ceiling and fits in with any building. The UV-C light that pours out of it successfully combats bacteria, viruses and germs. It affords protection of around 99.9 percent, as Prohaska explains to us. In parallel, the air all around the protective wall against viruses is sucked up and then pumped back after being purified. If somebody wants to cross the curtain of light motion sensors suspend it again for a short time. He then goes on to tell us that the UV-C rays are not dangerous to skin or eyes as users do not come into contact with the light. He adds that reflections are avoided by means of an absorptive coating on the floor. Furthermore, there are a large number of safety functions that guarantee smooth operation and immediately report irregularities of any kind. As far as power consumption is concerned, the protective wall currently requires between 80 and 100 watts per running meter. The team’s production and logistics are funded by a large German car manufacturer who currently wishes to remain anonymous.

“I am very happy to be collaborating with scientists who are committed enough to work with us to offer protection against infection with COVID-19. They are heroes,” reports Prohaska. With the fruits of their labor, the interdisciplinary team really has its finger on the pulse of our times. The demand from hospitals and care homes is correspondingly large – and definitely international. With this in mind and while keeping the product’s carbon footprint as small as possible, Smart United is now looking for partner companies all over the world who will be able to manufacture the product locally. “Our objective is not to maximize profits at all costs. Instead, we want to guarantee that our idea will be pursued by our cooperation partners as franchisees,” explains Prohaska. As he tells us, “We want to come up with ideas that help people,” adding: “it is fantastic to see what we can achieve by combining energy and expertise.”