MICROBIAL DECONTAMINATOR

While countless organizations are working on solving the ventilator and mask shortages, an increase in production of conventional devices that sterilize whole rooms, medial supply rooms, surgical units, hallways, etc. with zero personnel involved in the physical cleaning is very likely to fall short and with significant associated costs (logistics and paywall issues) as with the ventilator problem. Creating automated but low-cost devices with the ability to be constructed on-site in large quantities rapidly is logistically and medically critical. Between 5 to 10% of all patients contact at least one U.S. hospital-acquired infection in the, equating to minimally about 16.5 million people. This infection rate is greater in regions and countries with less-than-ideal medical facilities. During any pandemic, this can increase by x-factor we don’t know because during constant emergencies this fomite tracking is not a priority or sterilization processes become rushed. MICROBIAL DECONTAMINATOR focuses on the above sterilization issues.

The problem addresses global not just U.S. issues. Our question then becomes, is it possible to create a low-cost room sterilization device compared to devices currently approaching $70,000.00, so one hospital can have many of these devices working constantly? Our procedure in tacking this question was to first identify the minimum requirements for a low-cost room sterilizer, based on collective wisdom of a physician, engineer, virologist, and a laser specialist design against the above requirements, conduct immediate testing, and report results. Small box chambers are not even a short-term solution in any critical care environment described to solve the above problems. The proposed solution is to be applied globally, as fomite contamination influences people globally and not just by a specific region or country. In addition, these issues cause economic stress on the people, the hospital, and the community. If it gets worse, it causes regional, country, and global economic stresses, as we see with the Coronavirus. This economic stress is also seen with the medical supply chain, and when the medical supply chain fails, as it is during currently, lack of proper supplies exposes even more people to whatever microbial issues are prevalent at healthcare facilities, such as hospitals.  

MICROBIAL DECONTAMINATOR works using a modulated optical maser, or a laser, to microbially [both bacteria and viruses] sterilize rooms [fixed or portable], surgical units, supply closets, hallways, stairwells, restrooms, cafeterias, offices, and any equipment present in its decontamination ring, all without relying on resupplying it. MICROBIAL DECONTAMINATOR also can work on airplanes, cruise ships, schools, auditoriums, arenas, and any area where contact with an item is or becomes a microbial concern.

The MICROBIAL DECONTAMINATOR serves those working in hospitals and those going into hospitals, before, during and after pandemics; and those leaving hospitals to schools, stores, or their homes. This was part of our process where we copied the NSF I-Corp process of finding our beachhead, then speaking to what we would consider customers and those affected by the customers that began in the Summer of last year; where we spoke to those with hospital-acquired infections, healthcare providers both in clinics and hospitals. The potential benefits to hospital-acquired patients is obvious; the healthcare provider needs to take into account costs, as even hospital ventilators as of last year were considered very costly to even a medium-sized hospital; and for it to be FDA-cleared [unless a pandemic occurs, which as of last year was considered “nonsense, for an academic classroom project to do” or science fiction, even in the healthcare community and those providing supplies to hospitals]. We have conducted this approach based on our official participation with numerous NSF I-Corps programs...each with a non-related device.  

This proposal fits well with the current challenge, Health Security & Pandemics. When testing patients becomes a priority based funding like Harvey Weinstein in prison, celebrity status, or severity-of-illness level [missing carriers] while neglecting front-line healthcare providers, MICROBIAL DECONTAMINATOR becomes necessary. When too many days [not minutes] between testing and results is an issue keeping away critical healthcare providers, MICROBIAL DECONTAMINATOR becomes essential. When medical equipment and supplies are hampered by logistical issues, MICROBIAL DECONTAMINATOR becomes critical. When portable patient rooms or makeshift patient rooms becomes the only hope, MICROBIAL DECONTAMINATOR becomes life-saving…locally, regionally, globally.

COMPETITORS

AlphaOmega Electronics

Avantes

BW TEK

Cetoni

GL Spectris

Horiba Scientific

HyperFine Spectrometer

LightMachinery

Ocean Optics

U-Therm International (H.K.) Limited

We identified three core issues with our competitors:

• Like companies using the same initial reagent for their “different” diagnostic kits, rely on either single-sourced items or single-sourced country providing the foundation for their devices. This creates logistical problems;
• None of their systems are designed currently is not designed to be repaired on site. Too many devices are not designed to be repaired, they are designed to be discarded. This creates logistical problems.
• None of their systems are used in rural hospitals…given rise to speculation that their system is not a fit for rural hospitals = not their core customers. This creates a need.

Modulated lasers. These lasers exist currently, using for a new application.

PUBMED…relevant [not all-inclusive] references 2017-2019:

• Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity Based on a Synergistic Combination of Sublethal Levels of Stresses Induced by UV-A Light and Organic Acids.: Appl Environ Microbiol. 2017 May 17;83(11).
• Evaluation of an ultraviolet room disinfection protocol to decrease nursing home microbial burden, infection and hospitalization rates: BMC Infect Dis. 2017 Mar 3;17(1):186.
• Solar UV radiation and microbial life in the atmosphere: Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2018 Dec 5;17(12):1918-1931.
• Multifunctional biosynthesized silver nanoparticles exhibiting excellent antimicrobial potential against multi-drug resistant microbes along with remarkable anticancerous properties: Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2017 Nov 1;80:659-669.
• Olax scandens Mediated Biogenic Synthesis of Ag-Cu Nanocomposites: Potential Against Inhibition of Drug-Resistant Microbes: Front Chem. 2020 Feb 28;8:103.
• Evaluation of a pulsed xenon ultraviolet light device for reduction of pathogens with biofilm-forming ability and impact on environmental bioburden in clinical laboratories: Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2020 Mar;29:101544.
• UV-Responsive Multilayers with Multiple Functions for Biofilm Destruction and Tissue Regeneration: ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2019 May 15;11(19):17283-17293.
• Modelling invasive pathogen load from non-destructive sampling data: J.  Theor Biol. 2019 Mar 7;464:98-103.
• Daylight exposure modulates bacterial communities associated with household dust: Microbiome. 2018 Oct 18;6(1):175.

When we started our venture 2.5 years ago~prior to our three-phase customer discovery process~we looked at scientific, medical, and legal journals regarding hospital-acquired infections…person-to-person or fomite to person, like a doctor’s tie carrying microbes and transferring to patient during a hospital bed visit [a tie provides zero medical value, and it’s not needed for protection like other clothing items]. We also focused on rural hospitals in the U.S. for two reasons. The first reason, since 2010, close to 100 rural hospitals in the U.S. have closed and close to 690 more are at risk of closing; consequently this became our proposed beachhead customers. The three core indicators for the rural hospital closings are lack of proper funding by the local, country, State, and the federal government [through grants or other types of funding]. This gives rise to supply issues and staffing issues [long hours because funds to properly staff a hospital is lacking]. None of which is sustainable. This then became the second reason to focus on rural hospitals. The rural hospital issues translate well to hospitals in countries where hospital support is always problematic. This finding also translates well to temporary hospital settings. If this is solved at the rural level, then approaching mega-hospitals would be [not easy] but easier.

What we also found, in general, hospital then and now, still do not test for community-acquired infections at the in-patient registration process. This equates to early detection and proper mitigation. In addition, the solutions in the market then and now was [is] not fit with any hospital system, whether for rural, temporary, or mega-hospitals to remain useful and effective for long-term uses. Finally, none of the current solutions were/are widely adapted or recommended by a medical association [This excludes any common marketing deal between an organization and the medical association of a fee-for-recommendation strategy.].

To effectively ensure fomite problems are not a problem in rural hospitals that require additional supplies or personnel to operate or monitor it, we developed the concept of a MICROBE DECONTAMINATOR.

Globally; the solution does not discriminate based on region, social status, religion, color, gender, or income status.

The goals are set from a feasible logistical perspective.

• Goals within the next year is to have a prototype in rural hospitals we have associations with currently.
• Goals within the next year to have a prototype in hospitals of countries we have associations with through our Board. This is roughly about 475 million people…current total populations.
• Goals after that is to expand in neighboring countries from our direct country associations.
• Goals within the next five years is to have, where necessary logistically, micro-dark facilities to be in reach of any rural hospital within 5 hours of driving or drone flying.

Three core barriers for MICROBIAL DECONTAMINATOR are:

1a. Battery efficiency;

2a. Viability testing; and

3a. Logistical bottlenecks.

The current solution to the three core barriers for MICROBIAL DECONTAMINATOR are:

1b. The system is to be modulized to adapt to battery technology without customer having to buy new system or other components becoming obsolete to where they have to purchase [most likely do without] another system.

2b. After our Phase I & II beta testing, we will use limited rural hospitals as our Alpha-Testers [Alpha-Testers = any upgrades they will have for free as many as they need…after obtaining FDA-cleared status for the Microbial Decontaminator.]. This concept was developed during our Phase III customer inquiry task. This should reduce the issues with viability testing.

3b. The current plana within 5 years is to create micro-dark facilities to nearly-eliminate the medical logistical bottlenecking seen with Covid-19 supplies globally…also reduces the carbon footprint.

N/A

Richard Guadalupe McDonald

Hybrid team~Integrative Business Design strategy~allows for diverse benefits:

• Non-profit perspective, equipment/hardware/software for lower-cost/free, and space for testing devices at Phase IV Customer Discoveries. Examples: (1-2) AUTODESK FOUNDATION and MASTERCAM software; (3) avoided 41%-60% overhead fee for lab access.
• For-profit perspective, funds for instrumentation access. Won grant by New Mexico’s SBA program~partnered with Los Alamos National Laboratory [LANL] for specialty advice~stress-free Rare Earth Element crystals on lasers. 

TEAM BACKGROUND:

Dr. Richard Guadalupe McDonald pioneered field multiplexing [Military Medicine] and novel RNA cloning strategy for viral vaccine development [Journal of Virological Methods]. Historical third-party evaluations/letters for solutions/experience: 
* Dr. Birx [Coronavirus Task Force] & WRAIR Commander
* Dr. Fauci (through assistant) [Coronavirus Task Force]
* Dr. Smith [taught Dr. Robert Gallo’s team Molecular-Virology]
* Dr. Birx & another physician                
* Director/Assistant Director: Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
* FEMA of Iowa
* FEMA
* The Joint Staff [Pentagon]
http://www.globalhealthscience...

Dr. Gary Rayon is a Full Professor at New Mexico State University, and his expertise is full-power lasers and laser building. He collaborates with LANL.

  Alex Gorsuch is a serial entrepreneur, multidisciplinary engineering consultant, and the lead engineer on over 200 products. His subspecialties are in prototyping and ideation for industries in AgTech/Biomedical/Education, which includes, ruggedized advanced diagnostics to resource-scarce areas, and solving logistic issues through integrated sensor packages, machine learning, and microfluidics. Former instructor for an I-Corps site within New Mexico State University. Currently serves as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at EnterpriseWorks at UIUC and mentor at Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. MS in Industrial Engineering.

Los Alamos National Laboratory in 2019 for expert advice on stress-free Rare Earth Elements crystals and lasers.

Our core initial channel for revenue streams will be web-based, direct sales for: (1) efficient customer service, (2) lower customer acquisition costs, (3) more refined customer segments, and (4) future customer benefits add-ons on the product while reducing high-risk product developments. For a smooth logistics of parts, our focus will be with key resources, key activities, and key partnerships.

All the above is to turn our technologies into products with greater impact in the market that in turn creates new jobs, new opportunities, and novel ways to impact society globally not just nationally.

FUNDS:

PHASE I: through grants or applicable donations; and

PHASE II: through sales. Our current business model will not need raising investment capital from either equity capital, debt capital, or specialty capital. This will help ensure we will not grow too fast.

If our solution is selected it will eventually save millions of lives globally and without a high-financial cost to operate and to maintain. This includes a novel business model that lowers dramatically the logistical bottlenecks seen currently with COV-19 supply chain. This includes are our TAíNO GUIDANCE SYSTEM  described below.

Our current business partnership strategy is to have 3 core global hubs:

• one in the U.S. to cover North, Central, and South American regions;
• one is in the UK or Hungary to cover European and African regions; and
• one in Vietnam to covering Pan-Asian regions.

Then looking for partners in those hubs to work with our person in those hub countries currently.

Our partnership is not about the who, but about the where. Our current business strategy is to have 3 core global hubs:

• one in the U.S. to cover North, Central, and South American regions;
• one is in the UK or Hungary to cover European and African regions; and
• one in Vietnam to covering Pan-Asian regions.

Then looking for partners in those hubs to work with our person in those hub countries currently.

Without healthy healthcare workers, there are no recovered patients. This fits well with our 6 KEY ELEMENTS we developed years ago. See the 6 Key Elements within our website go directly to it with www.SixKeyELements.org. 

In short, "for people to grow economically in any town, village, or country, people require 6 key elements [by priority]. #1 military stability; #2 political stability; #3 food/water stability; #4 healthcare stability; #5 educational stability; and #6 business stability. Success in #6 [business stability], means educational stability [#5]; success in #5 [educational stability], means healthcare stability [#4]; success in #4 [healthcare stability], means food/water stability [#3]; success in #3 [food/water stability], means political stability [#2]; and success in #2 [political stability], means military stability [#1].

With your help, Global Health Science Institute focuses on: #4 technological efforts; #5 action-driven awareness programs, and #6 economic development. How Global Health Science Institute operates influences #1, #2, and #3 elements. For example, 100% of the intellectual property generated from a patient sample(s) belongs to the patient: the only program in the world. NO BIOLOGICAL SLAVERY = FAIR TRADE SCIENCE. See how at www.NoBiologicalSlavery.org, also within our site. All this was started by Dr. Richard Guadalupe McDonald [decorated U.S. military veteran and two-time National Institutes of Health Fellowship recipient], whose first professional science & technology gig was washing glassware and cleaning toilets.

As part of our 6 Six Key elements [within our website is www.SixKeyELements.org], one part of our technology is a project called theTAíNO GUIDANCE SYSTEM: TO PRODUCE A SEQUENCE OF REAL-TIME DATA SCIENCE & ANALYTICS GUIDANCE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP FIGHT HUMAN DISEASES, INJURIES, AND BIASES THAT HELPS PEOPLE NOW.

ONE EXAMPLE = CANCER: Even at mega-facilities, more children and adults are dying from cancer than not. Cancer treatments are horrible and are a hit-or-miss process. Sadly, cancer treatment results are mostly ‘misses’ because it still relies on guessing. It’s why with billions in the bank, you can still die from cancer = no hidden high-priced cure exists. “Realistically, for a lot of [cancer] patients, this is not going to be helpful to them…for others, it might be the single most important thing you could do. And I can’t tell one from the other.” Dr. M. Kolodziej, Oncologist, [MIT Technology Review, January/February 2017]

      With the generous access of the AI for Humanity Prize, the current excuse of “some day we may be able to…” will disappear with the TAíNO GUIDANCE SYSTEM.

     At Global Health Science Institute we don’t:

Experiment on animals OR use radioactive materials OR use outside fundraising companies or use outside ad agencies OR don’t spend funds on AdWords―and not $100K/month common with mega-non-profits OR plan to be a mega-organization where massive admin/exec bloat is common, then risks are not taken because of admin comfort, then recycling ideas begins OR use outside web development companies: we learn something new = we add to site; OR own Intellectual Property we generate from patients’ samples [The ONLY Patient-Friendly Organization Fighting Human Diseases & Injuries because we ignore Moore v. Regents of the U. of California (1990), and Greenberg et al. v. Miami Children’s Hospital Research Institute (2003)].

With our TAíNO GUIDANCE SYSTEM, the Innovation for Women Prize can push the use #AI [instead of humans] for funding decisions.

TAíNO GUIDANCE SYSTEM: TO PRODUCE A SEQUENCE OF REAL-TIME DATA SCIENCE & ANALYTICS GUIDANCE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP FIGHT HUMAN DISEASES, INJURIES, AND BIASES THAT HELPS PEOPLE NOW.

This eliminates the biases known currently with major funding agencies. The TAíNO GUIDANCE SYSTEM used for technical and biomedical decisions, it can also be used to eliminated one hurdle in the advancement of women in technology and scientific fields. Girls see the hurdle vanishing and will jump on the opportunity to be judged by their accomplishments and future direction than based on gender or region of a country or location of education, to name a few human biases when reviewing funding requests.