In the next few months, I will need to find a way to completely sterilize a laptop computer, as well as its power supply and mouse.
It will be a new computer. It needs to be clean enough to be used in a sterile environment in a hospital setting by someone with no immune system- i.e., a VERY clean machine.
Does anyone know a good method to use, to sterilize a laptop and accessories? Please let me know, I’m every so appreciative in advance.
Thank you.
Cartooniverse
I’m not sure that this could actually be done without damaging the computer; you can blow out the dirt with compressed air, then sterilise the machine with ultraviolet light and/or ozone, but that might damage it.
If you’re looking to buy a new computer for this environment, then maybe a tablet PC is the best option as it could (probably) be slipped inside a clear flexible plastic cover, you might even find a ruggedised outdoor version that is submersible (in which case sterilising it becomes more of a possibility).
I seriously doubt even a “rugged-ized” laptop would be submersible. Electronic + water = BAD
A tablet PC is probably a good idea, if your patient is just going to be web browsing to stave off the boredome. But if e-mail is the goal, you will most likely need a keyboard.
AFAIK, Ozone will not harm any components in a laptop, nor will UV. So if you’re just concerned about sterilizing the outside (which is about all you can do) wiping it down with alcohol, using ozone or UV would work fine.
TRUST ME, you do NOT want to open up a laptop to attempt to clean its innards. It is NOT as simple as you might think. I know, I have to work on them sometimes. PITA!
Hmmm. I’m thinking ethylene oxide – an extremely penetrating, easily evacuable, and extremely toxic gas, commonly used for sterilizing. Try Googling for “ethylene oxide” and “contract.”
I’m not aware that ozone is particularly effective for this, and I know that UV won’t penetrate (gamma rays will, but they’ll probably F up the chips).
Here’s a link regarding a woman who put an Apple laptop into an oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees F. It still booted, although aesthetically it - um - suffered.
Whether this procedure can be modified to a) reduce the damage to the laptop and b) guarantee sterilisation of the device is an excercise left to the reader. What is the temp needed to sterilise something in this manner? Boiling point of water? Can you even sterilise something by heating it in this manner? Would 4 hours at a gentle 200degF do?
Also there’s also lot of talk on the web about immersing electronic equipment in pure alcohol to clean it. I don’t know if I’d do this to a hard disk or fan though. It would strip the letters from the keyboard, remove oil based lubricants from various parts and whatnot.
Maybe a combo of UV light and baking?
Or what about building an enclosure for the laptop, with flexible clear plastic for the keyboard and venting to an outside room? Also Macs and Windows XP have voice recognition technology (of varying degrees of quality) built in, I don’t know if it’d be workable for everyday use though.
what about the enclosure idea, but with one of these keyboards (or similar); not sure about the mouse, but I think you can get mini trackpad type devices which might be easy to clean.
The flexible keyboard is brilliant, I thank you for the reminder. I’ve noodled with them in the stores. They’re water and foodproof ( yeah ! ). This is an 11 year old child, being water and food proof is a good thing. I forsee maybe a lightweight VAIO, and this keyboard in front of it.
A clear plastic housing for the VAIO would be cleanable fairly easily, and could be scrubbed with a sterilizing agent. Rubber gasket seals for the mouse and keyboard, and I might have something safe.
Other ideas?
I once read an article about how someone did this - but it was a few years ago and in a magazine in a doctor’s waiting room so I can’t offer a link - sorry!
Basically - from memory - they decided sterilising a PC/laptop was impossible without killing the machine so they went for a ‘PC outside the room’ approach.
They sterilized a keyboard/mouse using hot steam IIRC - but the PC itself was on the other-side of a wall (with a window - obviously) so only the keyboard/mouse were in the ‘clean’ environment.
You’d now to able to connect the keyboard and mouse on a cordless connection of course - which would save faffing around getting cables through the ‘clean’ wall.
I’d have thought to put the whole computer into a sterile environment would be sealing it inside an airtight “bubble” and then you’d have a lot of problems with cooling etc. - so the ‘computer outside - keyboard inside’ approach seems sensible if that’s practical?
Do let us know how you come on tho - and there MUST be companies who specialise in this sort of thing?
TTFN
JP
Long time lurker checking in…(Also a RN)
Cartooniverse - talk to the people at the hospital where the laptop will be used. They’ll want to do the sterilizing themselves, and will have the facilities. Remember also, hospitals are big on electrical safety issues, and any piece of electronic equipment that comes in from outside will have to be inspected by the hospital and approved for use. (This is pretty standard policy at hospitals everywhere) Which hospital department is responsible for this varies from institution to institution - sometimes it’s the equipment department, sometimes it’s safety and security.
I’m betting that this is a problem the hospital has dealt with before. A lot of patients who are admitted for long-term treatment nowdays want to bring their computers, laptops, Gameboys, etc with them.
The best thing you can do to find out what’s needed/allowed is to contact the hospital and talk to them - start with the head nurse on the unit the kid will be on, and work from there.
The best of luck to your young friend, and I hope all goes well.
Gytha, RN
Just remember – it’s the MOORS, not the MOOPS.
I don’t think sterilizing a notebook computer is a major issue.
Even patients with terminal cases of AIDS constantly contact other people, who carry a lot more microbes than any notebook computers.
Damn. Just the other day I saw someting about sterilizable laptops for use in operating rooms - and I can’t find it any more.
I’ll keep looking. In the mean time, all the best for your friend.
Perhaps you could just teach the laptop how to practice safe uploading.
Found it. It wasn’t a laptop. The company makes PCs for use in medical (sterile) environments. The PCs meet all kinds of requirements for equipment for use in the operating room. Probably too expensive for private use, but maybe you can get the hospital to spring for one that they can keep and loan to other patients in similar conditions.
The biggest problem is that it is a German company.
I’ll give them another call this afternoon when the salesperson is back from lunch. Maybe they have a dealer in the US, or maybe they operate internationally.
What about rubbing alcohol? Use a damp cloth and rub it down. (Not soaked but damp).
O.K.
I’ve spoken to the head of the company, and she would be in a position to sell you a single unit for use in a sterile environment. This would be more of a sealed standard PC than a laptop, but I don’t think that will be a problem.
The low end model starts at around 3400Eur - somewhat more in dollars because of the exchange rates. If you are looking for performance, it isn’t there. The highend unit has an 850MHz processor. Graphics shouldn’t be a problem, they should be able to plug in any card that can get along without a fan.
They don’t have FDA approval, but you’re not wanting to use it as a medical device, anyway.
Customs may be a problem because the device is delivered sterile. If customs opens it, it’ll have to be sterilized again - but it can take that. It is made for it.
There will probably be paperwork to knock out on this end and possibly coordination with US customs, but I’d be willing to do that.
You’ll have to check with the hospital and see if they’ll go along
If you want to do this, let me know by e-mail (see my profile.)
Don’t worry about putting me out. The company is interested in getting into the US market. They were happy when I contacted them about this, and asked if I would be interested in working for them on the US market. If you want to do it, then we can just consider it a test case for exporting to the US and learning the rules and ways.
Mort Furd
Eh, what? Why did you say that, and why do I vaguely recognize it?
Seinfeld, the boy in the bubble was playing Trivial Pursuit with George.
I’m sorry, but the card says “Moops”.
Well, I’ve poured half a can of Pepsi into a Vaio laptop and it survived the experience (after a 2-week drying out period). For this reason I don’t think it come to harm by being misted with a solution of bleach.
Most laptops have built-in trackpads, so unless that is inadequate for some physical reason I don’t see the need for a mouse at all. It’s just another item to deal with.