Touch screen disinfection

Touchscreens are indispensable as interactive user interfaces for communication and information systems. However, the use of such devices is associated with a not inconsiderable risk of infection, as effective disinfection after each use is currently practically impossible.
This project was dedicated to the development of practical solutions for disinfecting the user interface of such devices with public access.

The project took a novel approach. The sliding protective layer in front of the
display makes it possible to disinfect the used surface after each operation inside the device.
The UV irradiation unit developed by the consortium and the treatment procedure for the used areas on the protective film tapes delivered the required results and enables the reliable destruction of adhering germs in the form of bacteria, yeasts and molds, so that the system can be further integrated into commercial vending machines.

Depending on the target, between 3 and 6 log levels could be inactivated with the irradiation parameters developed. This corresponds to the practical requirements, as only surface concentrations below 102 CFU/cm² were found during the inventory.
The project was carried out jointly with a renowned machine manufacturer (Fischer Electronicsysteme GmbH), responsible for the realization of the prototype disinfection unit, the Fraunhofer FEP in Dresden (development of the disinfection technology) and RBC GmbH (development and construction of the disinfection unit including control unit). GMBU’s contribution consisted of microbiological testing and the development of a verification procedure for the effectiveness of the disinfection unit.

Project partner:
Fischer Electronicsysteme GmbH & Co. KG
RBC GmbH
Fraunhofer FEP Dresden
Duration: 01.01.2020 – 30.06.2022
Funding body: VDI/VDE-IT on behalf of the BMWK