Internally applied ultraviolet light could help treat coronovirus patients. The Healight is a catheter embedded with small LED lights that emit UVA.
The Healight technology delivers intermittent ultraviolet (UV) A light through an endotracheal catheter and according to the company, it is being studied as a potential treatment for coronavirus and other respiratory infections.
First developed in 2016 by the research team of the Medically Associated Science and Technology (MAST) Program at Cedars-Sinai and led by Mark Pimentel, MD, Healight has shown potential as an effective antiviral and antibacterial treatment. The device uses UVA light, because of all three forms of UV light, UVA has been shown to have the least amount of harm to mammalian cells while still killing viral and bacterial cells.
Aytu is working alongside a research team at Cedars-Sinai Hospital on an expedited regulatory process to try to use the technology faster for critically ill intubated patients. The company notes that along with being a potential treatment for viral and bacterial pathogens, Healight may also be helpful in treating bacterial infections in ventilator-associated pneumonia.
It has been proven in the lab that at the right wattage ultraviolet light can kill viruses and bacteria (including coronavirus).
Testing at Cedar Sinai Medical Center looks promising.
SOURCES- United European Gastroenterology Journal, Aytu Bio, Nurse.org
Written by Brian Wang, Nextbigfuture.com
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