A system for activating an emitting module is provided. A computer device identifies (i) environment data relating to an environment, and (ii) user data relating to a user located within the environment, wherein the user is wearing a wearable computing device. The computing device predicts that the user will interact with a surface in the environment based, at least in part, on the environment data and the user data. The computing device selects at least one emitting module from a plurality of emitting modules on the wearable device based, at least in part, on a predicted proximity of the at least one emitting module to the surface. The computing device prompts the user to activate the at least one emitting module.

Provided according to embodiments of the invention are methods of disrupting, removing, and/or preventing biofilm formation on a surface. Such methods use compositions that include nanoparticles and/or microparticles that include an inert liquid and/or gas core surrounded by an enclosing substance. Further provided according to embodiments of the invention are methods for disrupting a biofilm to extract an analyte from a sample, methods of disrupting superficial dermal layers, and methods of disrupting, removing, and/or preventing biofilms in hydroponic systems, microbial fuel cells, and on agricultural products.

Apparatuses for sanitizing and/or sterilizing a dental/orthodontic appliance are described herein. These apparatuses may include an internal chamber in which one or more sanitizing/sterilizing modes, such as UV light (e.g., UVC light), ultrasound, heat, etc. may be applied to an appliance.

Dehydration and drying are some of the oldest methods of preserving food and other biological materials such as proteins and both live and dead live microorganisms or their metabolites. The invention disclosed herein seeks a method of further improving the process of preserving biological material by combining the freezing or freeze-drying process with a partial infrared dehydration step. By using infrared radiation energy to perform simultaneous blanching and dehydration, the drying speed is greatly increased and better cellular and molecular integrity is maintained. The invention herein is also particularly useful in connection with cannabis and hemp.

Described herein is an ultrasound-based virus shield. The ultrasound-based virus shield may include an ultrasound sonar emitter configured to emit a first sonar signal including a header with key data, and an ultrasound sonar receiver configured to receive a second sonar signal. The ultrasound-based virus shield may include a processor configured to: calculate a distance between the ultrasound-based virus shield and a subject in response to determining that the second sonar signal includes the key data associated with the first sonar signal, and activate an ultrasound sterilizing emitter in response to determining that the distance calculated is less than a threshold distance. An ultrasound sterilizing emitter of the ultrasound-based virus shield may be configured to emit a sterilizing signal.

Described herein is an ultrasound-based virus shield. The ultrasound-based virus shield may include an ultrasound sonar emitter configured to emit a first sonar signal including a header with key data, and an ultrasound sonar receiver configured to receive a second sonar signal. The ultrasound-based virus shield may include a processor configured to: calculate a distance between the ultrasound-based virus shield and a subject in response to determining that the second sonar signal includes the key data associated with the first sonar signal, and activate an ultrasound sterilizing emitter in response to determining that the distance calculated is less than a threshold distance. An ultrasound sterilizing emitter of the ultrasound-based virus shield may be configured to emit a sterilizing signal.

A reusable apparatus, such as a medical instrument or tool, is decontaminated by applying pressure waves with direct contact of the pressure wave applicator to the reusable apparatus in an open bath in a sufficient dosage to remove contamination but without adversely affecting the ability to reuse the apparatus.

A reusable apparatus, such as a medical instrument or tool, is decontaminated by applying pressure waves with direct contact of the pressure wave applicator to the reusable apparatus in an open bath in a sufficient dosage to remove contamination but without adversely affecting the ability to reuse the apparatus.

Described herein are methods and devices for selectively diminishing viability of or killing bacterial, fungal, or viral pathogens using acoustic excitation below the thresholds for cavitation.

Described herein are methods and devices for selectively diminishing viability of or killing bacterial, fungal, or viral pathogens using acoustic excitation below the thresholds for cavitation.