Medical technology company Sterifre Medical Inc said on Thursday that it has developed technology to help fight the spread of COVID-19 and other contagious pathogens.

The AURA system enables fast and automated device disinfection at the point of care. It can be used on medical equipment such as thermometers, glucometers, otoscopes, stethoscopes, oximeters, pads/sensors, cords/cables and doppler probes and can also disinfect radios, phones, tablets, remote controls and call buttons as well as phones, keys, ID badges and jewellery.

The company said it is working at the state and federal level to expedite the approval process for the AURA system.

Sterifre is working to obtain an expedited registration with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which regulates microbicides used for hospital disinfection. It is also seeking EPA approval under the Emerging Viral Pathogens Program for inactivating SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Since the only byproduct of AURA is clean air, the system can be used at the patient's bedside. It can also be placed on a countertop at the nurse's station, in a utility room or stowed on a cart or a wall so it's readily available. The unit can be rapidly deployed, needing only an electrical outlet and with no plumbing connection required.

Currently, there are only a small number of specialty wipe manufacturers in the US and only a handful of brands are approved by the EPA for coronavirus in the healthcare setting, making shortages more prevalent.