Door handles in hospitals, schools, restaurants, and public restrooms can be full of bacteria and viruses, acting as fomites that facilitate the spread of illness. Traditional solutions often involve manual cleaning, which is sporadic, or costly automated systems that require power and maintenance. However, Rayvon Stewart’s invention addresses this fundamental challenge in public health.
Rayvon Stewart’s door handle is unlike any other
The genius of Stewart’s design lies in its mechanical simplicity. The system doesn’t rely on batteries, sensors, or electricity. Instead, it harnesses the very motion of the door opening and closing.
The mechanism involves a specialized ring that encircles the cylindrical handle. This ring is fitted with an internal sponge or absorbent pad saturated with a disinfectant, such as an alcohol-based solution.
Stewart grew up in a poor household with his grandmother, in the rural farming community of Mount Prospect. “Even though times were tough, we never really thought about that. We knew that we had something to do as a family,” he said.
When a person opens the door and lets it close, the kinetic energy of the door’s movement actuates the ring. It slides automatically from one end of the door handle to the other, wiping the entire surface with the disinfectant-soaked pad.
Upon the next use, the ring slides back in the opposite direction, ensuring the handle is cleaned after every single use. This constant, automated cycle effectively neutralizes germs left behind by each person, drastically reducing the potential for transmission.
Stewart conceptualized the pioneering ultra-violet self-sanitizing door handle model at age 23. He calls it Xermosol, which he says can kill 99.9% of pathogens but is safe for people and animals.
Stewart’s Invention can decrease cases of colds and flu
The implications for Rayvon Stewart’s technology are vast. In healthcare settings, it could play a crucial role in reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), which are a significant cause of patient morbidity and mortality.
“I saw how patients were suffering, the assistance that they needed, and how difficult it was for the nurses,” Stewart said.
For schools and daycare centers, it offers a way to curb the constant circulation of common colds and flu viruses. In the hospitality industry, from restaurants to cruise ships, it provides a visible and effective commitment to guest safety and cleanliness.
Developed while he was a student at Jamaica’s University of Technology, Rayvon Stewart’s invention is a powerful testament to the power of practical innovation. It solves a complex, universal problem with a low-cost, low-maintenance, and highly effective solution.
As we navigate a post-pandemic era, where public health awareness is at an all-time high, Stewart’s self-cleaning door handle is more than just a clever gadget; it’s a vital tool in the ongoing effort to create safer, healthier public spaces for everyone.