With widespread use of electronic medical records in Canada and elsewhere, computer keyboards have emerged as one of the prime focal points of contamination in dental offices and medical environments. Manual cleaning is currently the most common method used to disinfect keyboards. To be effective, keyboards should be wiped down repeatedly throughout the day--which is often difficult, impractical and labour-intensive.

Developed by former Microsoft Hardware veterans and their business partners, the self-sanitizing keyboard is the first product introduced by Bothell, Washington-based Vioguard.

The spread of MRSA and other HAIs, not to mention flu, in Canada and elsewhere is a complex problem that's being tackled each day. We believe Vioguard is offering a new and effective tool in this fight, said Vioguard ™s Chief Technical Officer Craig Ranta, a former Microsoft Hardware engineering director.

The keyboard is now available for use by medical-oriented customers and consumers in Canada. In the United States, it is currently designated as an investigational device, limited by Federal (or United States) law to investigational use pending U.S. Food & Drug Administration clearance. FDA clearance is anticipated in the first quarter of 2010.

Source: Vioguard LLC