Removal and dispersal of biofluid films by powered medical devices: Modeling infectious agent spreading in dentistry

Ian Eames; Francesco D'Aiuto; Somayeh Shahreza; Yousef Javanmardi; Ramanarayanan Balachandran; Martin Hyde; Yuan-Ling Ng; Kishor Gulabivala; Sara Watson; Hywel Davies; Nicolas Szita; Janette Khajeh; Jeanie Suvan; Emad Moeendarbary

iScience (Nov 2021)

Removal and dispersal of biofluid films by powered medical devices: Modeling infectious agent spreading in dentistry

Ian Eames,
Francesco D'Aiuto,
Somayeh Shahreza,
Yousef Javanmardi,
Ramanarayanan Balachandran,
Martin Hyde,
Yuan-Ling Ng,
Kishor Gulabivala,
Sara Watson,
Hywel Davies,
Nicolas Szita,
Janette Khajeh,
Jeanie Suvan,
Emad Moeendarbary

Affiliations

Ian Eames: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK; Corresponding author
Francesco D'Aiuto: Unit of Periodontology, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, WC1X 8LT, UK; Corresponding author
Somayeh Shahreza: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK
Yousef Javanmardi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK
Ramanarayanan Balachandran: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK
Martin Hyde: TSI, 30 Millbank, Westminster, London, SW1P 4WP, UK
Yuan-Ling Ng: Unit of Endodontology, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, WC1X 8LT, UK
Kishor Gulabivala: Unit of Endodontology, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, WC1X 8LT, UK
Sara Watson: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK
Hywel Davies: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK
Nicolas Szita: Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Bernard Katz Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Janette Khajeh: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK
Jeanie Suvan: Unit of Periodontology, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, WC1X 8LT, UK; Corresponding author
Emad Moeendarbary: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139, MA, USA; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 24, no. 11
p. 103344

Abstract

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Summary: Medical procedures can disperse infectious agents and spread disease. Particularly, dental procedures may pose a high risk of disease transmission as they use high-powered instruments operating within the oral cavity that may contain infectious microbiota or viruses. Here we assess the ability of powered dental devices in removing the biofluid films and identified mechanical, hydrodynamic, and aerodynamic forces as the main underlying mechanisms of removal and dispersal processes. Our results indicate that potentially infectious agents can be removed and dispersed immediately after dental instrument engagement with the adherent biofluid film, while the degree of their dispersal is rapidly depleted owing to the removal of the source and dilution by the coolant water. We found that droplets created by high-speed drill interactions typically travel ballistically, while aerosol-laden air tends to flow as a current over surfaces. Our mechanistic investigation offers plausible routes for reducing the spread of infection during invasive medical procedures.

Published in iScience

ISSN: 2589-0042 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science
Website: http://www.cell.com/iscience/home

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