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Health: Robots From Montgomery County Company Are Helping To Disinfect Texas Hospital With Ebola Patients

By Stephanie Stahl

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- With the Ebola threat spreading, a Philadelphia area company is called to duty in Dallas with a decontamination robot, that was used to clean up after the patient died there.  3 On Your Side Health Reporter Stephanie Stahl is here with an exclusive report on this technology.

Stopping the spread of the deadly Ebola virus is proving to be a difficult task.  A bio-tech company based in Horsham has equipment at the Dallas hospital that it says will make the hospital safer after Ebola patients are treated.

Decontamination robots like are being used in the Dallas hospital, trying to contain the Ebola virus.  It sprays a hydrogen peroxide vapor that can kill viruses and other germs.

"When it's introduced into a sealed room it will get in every nook and cranny in the room.  And when it comes out of the saturation, it envelopes the bacteria that's in the room and kills it," said Ed Striefsky, is the Director of Operation at Bioquell.

"The nozzles spin.  Both 360 each way, so it will ensure equal distribution of the vapor in the room," said Striefsky.  He says the remote controlled robotic sterilization systems have been used in a variety of places including the National Institutes of Health and Johns Hopkins.  The contaminated room is sealed for the hour long decontamination.  Now similar robots from Bioquell are in Dallas following the death of Thomas Eric Duncan.

"We sterilized the suite of rooms that he was exposed in.  Currently, this week we are back down there working in the emergency rooms," said Striefsky.

Bioquell says research shows hydrogen peroxide vapor can sterilize locations, which reduces the risk of people contracting contagious diseases.  The company says the technology is a quick and safe way for hospitals to contain Ebola.

"We have been preparing for an outbreak, such as this, for the last three or four months," said Striefsky.

Bioquell says it uses a verification system, including chemical test strips that are taped to the wall, to ensure that contaminants have been eliminated, and that it's safe to enter the room.

Bioquell Robot Information- http://www.bioquellus.com/

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