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Healthcare-associated infections are a significant concern in acute care facilities across the US. Studies have shown the importance of a hygienic patient environment in reducing the risk of such infections. This has caused an increased interest in ultraviolet (UV-C) light disinfectant technology as an adjunct technology to provide additional pathogen reduction to environmental surfaces and patient care equipment (i.e., surfaces). It is also well known that UV-C light can cause premature degradation of materials, particularly certain plastic materials. However, there is little information in the literature regarding characterizing this degradation of plastics and other materials used for surfaces in healthcare. This study aims to evaluate multiple characterization techniques and propose a systematic approach to further understand early onset degradation of plastics due to UV-C exposure. Susceptibility and modes of degradation of multiple plastic materials were compared using the techniques evaluated. Ten grades of plastic materials were exposed to UV-C light in a manner consistent with standards given in the healthcare and furniture industry to achieve disinfection. These materials were characterized for visual appearance, chemical composition, surface roughness and hardness using light microscopy, spectrophotometry, contact angle analysis, infrared spectroscopy, profilometry and nanoindentation. All characterization methods were able to identify one or more specific degradation features from UV-C exposure covering different aspects of physicochemical properties of the surfaces. However, these methods showed different sensitivity and applicability to identify the onset of surface damage. Different types of surface materials showed different susceptibility and modes to degradation upon UV-C light exposure. UV-C disinfection can cause detectable damage to various surfaces in healthcare. A characterization approach consisting of physical and chemical characterizations is proposed in quantifying surface degradation of a material from UV-C exposure to address the complexity in modes of degradation and the varied sensitivity to UV-C from different materials. Methods with high sensitivity can be used to evaluate onset of damage or early stage damage.

From early industrial prototypes in the 1960s and 1970s to sophisticated systems integrated into contemporary medical practice, healthcare robotics has come a long way in the last 10 years. Human potential has been enhanced by robotics in many ways, most notably in the areas of safety, accuracy, and repeatability. When paired with artificial intelligence (AI), these developments have enormous potential for the healthcare industry in the 21st century. These days, robots help in various places, such as healthcare facilities, assisted living apartments, and rehabilitation centers. For example, Aethon’s TUG robots carry supplies throughout hospitals effectively and lessen the effort of hospital staff. The main applications of healthcare robotics, including telepresence, rehabilitation, and operating rooms, are outlined in this chapter. Giraff and other telepresence robots allow doctors to observe patients from a distance. Hugo^TM RAS system from Medtronic has recently garnered notice because of its availability as a modular minimally invasive surgery solution that directly competes with the Da Vinci System in hospitals across the globe. Taking a focus on surgery rooms, telemedicine, and assistive care, this manuscript offers a broad review of the most recent advancements in healthcare robotics. It highlights the difficulties in properly integrating these technologies into the medical field.