106 IN DETAIL
CHRISTIE | COUNTERACT
Christie is pleased to announce the launch of the Christie CounterAct line of commercial UV disinfection products with patented Care222 far-UVC light technology for cinemas, theme parks, museums, sports complexes and other indoor spaces. The Christie fixture uses Ushio’s patented narrowband filtered Care222 excimer lamps that emit far-UVC 222nm light - the only UV technology shown to continuously and significantly reduce pathogens, like coronaviruses, that may also be used while people are present, when used in accordance with specified parameters. Mass production of the new Christie CounterAct fixture starts in January 2021. Developed by Christie’s parent company, Ushio Inc., based on technology licensed from Columbia University, the revolutionary Care222 far-UVC, mercury-free excimer lamp includes a proprietary short pass filter that prevents the emission of longer wavelengths of UV light (230nm and
higher) that are capable of penetrating human skin and eyes, an especially important feature that other 222nm and far-UVC products do not have. It has been known for many years that UV light is a highly effective disinfectant that can reduce pathogens in indoor spaces. Businesses and other institutions have long used germicidal UVC light to stop the spread of viruses. The main drawback with most UVC technology is that it uses a 254nm wavelength that can penetrate human skin and eyes, which means these germicidal lights can only be used when people are not present or while they’re wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) that protects the eyes and skin. These shortcomings constrain how these devices must be operated and limit their widespread use in occupied indoor spaces. A study conducted by Kobe University published in August 2020 concludes that, due to its shorter wavelength, far-UVC 222nm light does not www.mondodr.com
penetrate the skin and therefore may be used when humans are present. Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have also tested far-UVC 222nm light, and in particular its effect on aerosolised seasonal coronaviruses (that cause the common cold). A scientific paper published by this group in the journal Nature in June 2020 found that 99.9% of aerosolised seasonal coronaviruses (the cause of the common cold) were inactivated when exposed to far-UVC 222nm light in just 25 minutes. These studies’ findings suggest that the filtered 222nm far-UVC light emitted by Care222 lamps in Christie’s CounterAct fixture, which can operate continuously even when people are present, offers a significant improvement over traditional manual cleaning alone, which requires professional cleaners, and the repeated use of harsh chemicals, in which the results are temporary. www.christiedigital.com/commercial-uv-disinfection
