Breathe Easy with the i-Kat Air Purification System

Online, December 8, 2009 (Newswire.com) - When breathing contaminated air was cause for concern, Herman Tsui, Ph.D., and his team of scientists developed the i-Kat indoor air purifier. The i-Kat, short for Innovative Klean Air Technology, provides an unparalleled solution for indoor air quality control by destroying airborne viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other pollutants via plasma technology.

Unlike traditional air filters that solely trap microorganisms and require routine cleaning, the i-Kat air purifier demands no maintenance in wiping out airborne strains of H1N1, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), avian flu, MRSA, Legionnaires' disease, and tuberculosis. The elimination of airborne allergens by plasma also allows airway inflammation and asthma case-patients to curb symptoms.

While the i-Kat is available as a portable air unit, modules can be integrated with existing air conditioners, humidifiers, or central ventilation systems in homes, offices, schools, or hospitals. Each module contains reaction chambers where plasma fields generate recurring lightning bolts that zap 99 percent of microorganisms within 0.01 seconds.

Research for indoor air plasma treatment took hold in 2002, but the SARS epidemic of 2003 called for a sustainable technology that would banish mass airborne infection and prevent future outbreaks. The Hong Kong Government commissioned Tsui and his colleagues to develop a solution.

"The event highlighted the fact that there was no technology available to effectively reduce the risk of cross-contamination and confirmed that the existing technologies are incapable of preventing the spread of airborne diseases," says Tsui.

After controlled testing in class III labs where bacteria were contained, the i-Kat air purification system was successfully installed at the Hong Kong International Airport. The technology has also proved to be energy-efficient, cutting the 4 kilowatts used in the facility by half.

Today, global concerns run high as governments seek ways to prevent further outbreaks of H1N1. The Center for Disease Control reports that 48 states continue with high levels of flu activity. And where the use of surgical face masks or N95 respirators to protect health-care workers and civilians from airborne H1N1 virus is debatable, the i-Kat offers a practical protection method for breathing "klean" air.

ABOUT INVENTOR HERMAN TSUI

Herman Tsui, Ph.D., has more than 25 years experience in research and development, technology, engineering, and product development, with positions held at the U.S. Fusion Research Center and the Atomic Energy Authority in the U.K. He is the recipient of various awards for his development of plasma technology, including "My Favorite Inventions for Quality Living" in 2005 by the Hong Kong Government; the 2006 "Eco-Products Award" organized by the Business Environment Council; and the 2007 "Hong Kong Awards for Industries: Technological Achievement Award" by the Hong Kong Government. Tsui holds a Bachelor of Science in nuclear engineering and a doctorate from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology in the U.K.