Something in the air

We can’t see it, but it’s all around us. Air is vital to us… but it can sometimes carry infection and disease too. Now, with concerns over issues like swine flu mounting, there’s never been a better time for a good idea to help make clean air.

David Hallam, the man behind AirManager, is on a mission to give us all cleaner, healthier air and he thinks he’s found out exactly how to do it.

From looking around at what existed already, and what was wrong with them, David came up with a new approach called CCFT (Close Couple Field Technology). Basically, AirManager creates a safe electrical field that kills, destroys and breaks down airborne pathogens, contaminants and toxins.

We spoke to David to find out more.

Can you tell us what gave you the idea for AirManager?

I’d looked at the normal processes that were available for cleaning and sterilising air. They were either passive, in the form of filters, or they used ultra-violet light which were ineffective, or could even make the situation worse by mutating viruses.

I also looked at ionisers, but the problem with those is that they take the problem out of the air and drop it onto every horizontal surface. In the case of a hospital, that includes the patient.

The NHS run a programme called Smart Solutions, which was set up to help combat healthcare associated infections (HCAIs). As part of this, AirManager has been chosen for trial use in hospitals.

Can you tell us how this came about?

The Smart Solutions panel were concerned that many hospitals had a knee-jerk reaction to the problems of healthcare acquired infections. They were going out and buying all sorts of kit, most of which didn’t work. They started a programme for which over 3,700 applied. This was then whittled down to 250. They then identified three companies who could supply a product to treat air, three to cleanse hands and three to deal with surfaces.  We’re one of the three [for air].

So where does the programme go from here?

We’ve supplied equipment and they’re starting a project at the Royal Free in London. We’ve already been doing work with Bedford Hospital looking at C difficile (Clostridium difficile). As part of that project we’re going to see - for the first time in Europe - a full clinical trial over a year at four hospitals looking at the airborne route of infection problems. For many years infection control people have said that air is not a route of infection, but it’s a transport mechanism that puts things where they shouldn’t be.

What do you expect to see at the end of the project?

It will remove all contamination from the air…it doesn’t matter whether it’s bacterial, viral, mould spores or heavy metals. Our equipment – as we speak – is being installed on airlines to protect the cabin and cockpit environment.

Do you think that – because of headlines surrounding swine flu – people have become more conscious of the air that they breathe?

Yes.  10 years ago people didn’t give a damn about air quality. Now people have become much more conscious and understanding of air and air quality. They’ve had to following the increase of conditions like asthma.

I presume that AirManager can’t get rid of risk entirely?

The main thing to remember is that I cannot stop you sneezing on me, but what I can do is reduce the element in the air that will cause it to affect other people.

How did you start your career?

I’m a biophysicist by trade and have worked in R & D (research and development) all my life. I’ve developed test engines for computers and control systems for machine tools, right the way through to designing paramedic equipment for use in treating things like muscle stimulation. My background is to be a problem solver.

What did you study at school?

I leaned towards engineering and sciences at school and it spread from there. I have an interest in understanding how physical aspects like electricity affect the body.

So it seems like engineering has given you the problem-solving skills to tackle many things?

It’s like little boys playing with meccano sets. But, there should be lots more girls playing with meccano sets because the engineers I have found that are female are invariably better than the males. My production manager is female. I’m actually setting up an apprentice training scheme because I can’t find the right technical people. For this I would much rather have women.

I have written extensive training programmes for the company here. To prove the point, we took a lady who was a care worker who didn’t’ know a screwdriver from a hammer. Within three months she could strip and rebuild any of the complex machinery we have here.

And have you found the jobs you’ve done – over the years – rewarding?

Job satisfaction is superb. You design something and take it from the idea to something that is proved, tested and done. People like to be stimulated and get great satisfaction from it…it even stops Alzheimer’s.

Find out more at  www.airmanager.com.

 

 

 

 

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