Unhas’s Faculty of Engineering Donates E-Magic Machines for Killing Oral Bacteria to Two Hospitals

The Faculty of Engineering at Hasanuddin University (Unhas) finally handed over the E-MAGIC (Extraoral-Mobile Aerosol Guide Channel) oral bacteria-capturing device to two hospitals on Wednesday (October 14, 2020) afternoon.

The symbolic handover was conducted by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Muhammad Arsyad Thaha, along with members of the academic community and Dr. Muhammad Ruslin, M.Kes., Ph.D., Sp.BMK, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at Hasanuddin University, as well as the Director of the Hasanuddin University Dental Hospital, Dr. Andi Tajrin, M.Kes., Sp.BM.

The handover took place with a limited number of participants and in accordance with health protocols at the Hasanuddin University Dental Hospital.

The Extraoral Mobile Aerosol Guide Channel (E-Magic) machine is the result of a collaboration between the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Dentistry to develop a technological innovation amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

E-Magic Team Leader Muh. Anshar, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., explained that the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Dentistry took the initiative to create a device capable of absorbing aerosol emissions and killing bacteria and viruses.

It then processes the air into clean air, resulting in a prototype for healthcare technology.

Anshar, Ph.D., said the development of this innovative product was driven by the challenges faced by medical personnel, particularly in the field of dental health.

“When dentists treat patients at clinics or hospitals, the threat they face is the release of aerosols from patients,” he said.

Aerosols have the potential to contain bacteria and viruses.

He continued that, during a pandemic, the safety risks for healthcare workers treating dental patients become even greater.

“The aerosols produced during the process of treating and repairing patients’ teeth have the potential to contain dangerous viruses,” he explained.

This is especially true if the patient is an asymptomatic carrier (OTG) of the COVID-19 virus, which is currently a global pandemic.

This prototype has been tested at the Unhas Dental and Oral Hospital (RSGM) and works perfectly.

The process of creating this prototype took a short time.

“Initially, it was planned to take a week. However, because some components had to be imported from abroad, the process took three weeks,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Prof. Muhammad Arsyad Thaha stated that E-Magic has attracted the attention of the company PT Mitra Sarana Indo (MSI).

The Faculty of Engineering (FT) and the Faculty of Dentistry (FKG) at Unhas plan to explore a partnership with MSI for the mass production of E-MAGiC.

According to him, the development of E-MAGiC is one way the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Dentistry at Unhas are contributing to breaking the chain of COVID-19 transmission.

“So we are currently negotiating with the company PT MSI,” said Prof. Arsyad.

Prof. Arsyad added that the Unhas Faculty of Engineering has already passed clinical trials for the production of E-MAGiC.

“We will negotiate with PT MSI to discuss a cooperation agreement; production will only begin if a deal is reached, and the plan is for Panasonic to handle the manufacturing,” he emphasized.