British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is now home to the new Teck Copper Innovation Hub.
Made possible by a $1.75 million donation from Teck, the facility will enable BCIT researchers and students to research and test the use of antimicrobial copper in a range of healthcare devices, including prosthetics and orthotics.
Copper has unique antimicrobial properties and is proven effective in eliminating up to 99.9% of harmful bacteria which can make healthcare applications safer for patients and healthcare professionals.
The Teck Copper Innovation Hub, located inside the BCIT Centre for Applied Research and Innovation, will use additive manufacturing (3D printing) to produce healthcare devices composed of copper and composites.
The facility will also advance research projects and education focused on exploring new ways that copper can be used to enhance health and safety in real-life applications.
“Copper’s unique antimicrobial properties make it perfect for use in health care, making high-touch surfaces and medical devices like prosthetics safer. The new Teck Copper Innovation Hub will explore innovative new ways to use antimicrobial copper to enhance safety for patients and health care professionals and we applaud BCIT for advancing this important work,” said Jonathan Price, CEO of Teck.
Leave a Reply