SOUTHAMPTON scientists are pioneering a breakthrough in the battle against hospital infections.

Researchers at the University of Southampton spearheading an ultrasonic device which can significantly improve the cleaning of medical instruments to reduce contamination and infection risks.

StarStream makes water more efficient for cleaning by creating tiny bubbles which automatically scrub surfaces.

Now the device, invented and patented by the University of Southampton, has been demonstrated to industry experts.

The equipment, in commercial production by Ultrawave Ltd, supplies a gentle stream of water through a nozzle that generates ultrasound and bubbles, which dramatically improve the cleaning power of water reducing the need for additives and heating.

Cleaning instruments between patients is critical to avoid transmission of agents leading to conditions such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

But demonstrations revealed cold water could be used to remove biological contamination, including brain tissue from surgical steel.

It was also able to remove bacterial biofilms that typically cause dental disease and was effective at removing soft tissue from bones, which is required prior to transplants to prevent rejection of the transplanted material by the recipient’s immune system.

The research, published in the journal Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, was funded by the Royal Society Brian Mercer Award for Innovation. The device has won numerous awards, including the 2014 ‘Best New Product of the Year’ from S-lab and the 2012 Institute of Chemical Engineering Award for Water Management and Supply.

Principal investigator professor Tim Leighton, from the University’s Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, said: “In the absence of sufficient cleaning of medical instruments, contamination and infection can result in serious consequences for the health sector and remains a significant challenge. Our highly-effective cleaning device, achieved with cold water and without the need for chemical additives or the high power consumption associated with conventional strategies, has the potential to meet this challenge and transform the sector.”

He thanked the project’s funders but stressed the importance of making the invention available to the wider health sector, adding: “Commercialisation is vital.

“I we cannot build a business that can sell thousands of these to health providers at a price they find attractive, this invention will stay in the laboratory and help no-one.”

StarStream’s effectiveness was further demonstrated with the publication of two additional papers – further results on its effectiveness against dental biofilms were published in the Journal of Dental Research, while the device’s ability to clean skin models was published in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics.