The BioBlower, a recently-patented air sterilization technology developed at UB, will be used by the US military to immediately destroy airborne biological pathogens in the air.
The military will be using the BioBlower to protect soldiers from threatening biological attacks. The technology will take little to no effort to maintain, and may also be used on airplanes for the same effect.
The device sterilizes a continuous flow of air via compressive heating - the very same process that heats up a tire when it is inflated, according to James F. Garvey, professor of chemistry and co-founder of Buffalo BioBlower Technologies a UB spin-off company. The device rapidly compresses air into a small volume so the pressure and temperature are raised to the point where anything biological within that volume is destroyed.
"All you have to do is provide electricity and it works," Garvey said.
Airborne biological pathogens such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, SARS, anthrax and mold were completely wiped out by the BioBlower in trials. The one-of-a-kind machine was challenged with a series of harmful biological agents and killed 99.9 percent of the pathogens in the air.
"It's like boiling air," Garvey said. "The BioBlower destroys everything at the source. There's just nothing like it on the market."
According to Garvey, one out of 20 people get sick during their stay at a hospital, providing another application for the BioBlower. The technology is currently being tested in a simulated hospital room to measure its effectiveness, as well as being tested in other environments, such as classrooms and schools.
"We have thought about classrooms and primarily, public schools. One kid gets sick, then the entire class gets it and a month is lost. The kids take it home to their parents, they get sick, and there is a loss in productivity," Garvey said. "We are looking at making it part of the permanent ventilation system for schools and other commercial arenas."
The BioBlower was developed based on a modification of the ROOTS blower, a mechanical air pump technology that dates back to the early 20th century. It was commonly used for automotive applications.
The Buffalo BioBlower project is funded by the US Department of Defense, the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), UB's Office of Science Technology and Economic Outreach and the UB Center for Advanced Biomedical and Bioengineering Technology.
Research professors of mechanical and aerospace engineering John Lordi, chief executive officer of Buffalo BioBlower Technologies, along with James D. Felske, and Joseph C. Mollendorf, worked with Garvey to invent the air sterilizing technology.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
