Jamaican innovator Rayvon Stewart launches self-cleaning door handle to combat hospital infections

Jamaican university graduate Rayvon Stewart is making waves in public health innovation with a device designed to actively prevent the spread of pathogens in hospitals, schools, and other high-touch environments.

Stewart, 30, is the mind behind XermoShield, a smart, self-cleaning door handle developed under his company Xermosol. The device uses ultraviolet (UV) light to disinfect itself after every touch, killing more than 99.9% of harmful microorganisms while remaining safe for humans and animals.

Speaking at a recent launch event themed “Touching the Future: Innovation for a Safer World”, Alison Drayton, assistant secretary-general of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), described the invention as a “meaningful solution” for the region and a “life-saving design that fits our reality.”

Stewart’s inspiration came from firsthand hospital experience. As a final-year computer science student at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) in 2020, he volunteered at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) and witnessed a tragic incident in which bacteria killed some young babies. “They had an incident where they had a mishap where bacteria were killing some young babies,” Stewart told The Gleaner. That event spurred him to conceptualise a device not just reactive, but preventative, to tackle infections in vulnerable spaces.

Growing up in Mount Prospect with his grandmother, Stewart was one of the first in his family to attend university. His early innovations included 3D modeling software, allowing virtual fitting of clothes online. “I saw how patients were suffering, the assistance that they needed, and how difficult it was for the nurses,” he told The Guardian.

Stewart acknowledges the challenges he faced in bringing Xermosol to market. “There were so many challenges… The first one was proof of concept. It was very difficult in the beginning,” he said. Funding and convincing supporters were also major hurdles. However, support from the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) through its BIGEE programme enabled Stewart to secure provisional patent protection and grants for commercialisation.

Dr Camille-Ann Thoms-Rodriguez, consultant microbiologist at the University of the West Indies, told The Guardian that while XermoShield does not replace standard cleaning protocols, it is an “innovative tool that can be used alongside others, for infection control.”

The device, available in three sizes, is activated by a sensor that triggers a blue LED light to indicate disinfection. Prices range from US$275 to US$500, driven mainly by the UVC component and tariffs.

Looking ahead, Stewart is preparing for regional and international distribution. “We are already in talks with different manufacturers and distributors… to get our products out there very soon,” he said.

Dr David Lowe, managing director at the DBJ, praised the venture: “This is not just about a product… we’re proud of what this journey represents.” XermoShield has also drawn attention from global organisations, including the World Health Organization and Commonwealth leadership.

For Stewart, XermoShield represents more than technology; it’s a symbol of the Caribbean’s growing capacity for life-changing innovation. Drayton called it a “powerful expression of what happens when innovation is rooted in purpose and fuelled by resilience.”