Vioguard Self-Sanitizing Keyboard Kills Germs With Ultraviolet Light

Vioguard has developed the first self-disinfecting computer keyboard specifically designed to help reduce the spread of preventable infections.

The system uses a powerful germicidal UV lamp to kill harmful bacteria after every use. Vioguard's system safely floods the keyboard and pointing device with a powerful germicidal UV lamp, eliminating the need for manual disinfection. An infrared proximity sensor activates a motorized drawer, which presents a disinfected keyboard to the user. Once the user is finished, they can activate the disinfection cycle by pressing a button on the keyboard drawer - or, after a predetermined period of inactivity, the system will automatically initiate a disinfection cycle. LED indicators are used to let the user know when the keyboard is ready for use. The disinfection cycle can be interrupted anytime to ensure the device is available as needed.

Existing products that attempt to address the issue of disinfection range from simple keyboard covers to sealed wipeable keyboards to hardware that issues visual reminders when it’s time to be cleaned. All require human intervention, and leave room for missed cleanings or inadequate disinfection.

The keyboard was introduced at HIMSS 2009.