Anti-bacterial surface treatment

[Wardner in Tewksbury]

I was watching CBS's "Sunday Morning" earlier and there was a piece on why sharks are not plagued with marine fouling yet manatees, whales, and others are. The skin attachments are bacterial in origin. Apparently, sharks have a microscopic skin texture that is inhospitable to many (perhaps all) micro-organisms.

A company called Sharklet Technologies has done the R&D and is producing medical products with the anti-bacterial surface treatment. It can be embossed on film or directly onto final products. Catheters are one product. The surface profile is only 3 microns deep or one third of a human hair.

I am hoping someone in the maple sap tubing/fitting industry or research also saw this CBS program. If not, perhaps this thread will raise awareness.

http://www.hightech-edge.com/us-navy-ships-repel-bacteria-shark-skin-technology/5333/

http://www.sharklet.com/2009/11/sharklet-technologies-awarded-nih-sbir-small-business-innovation-research-grant-for-development-of-urinary-catheter-with-sharklet%E2%84%A2-pattern/

[Wardner in Tewksbury]

Below is another link with an interview. Apparently, PR has been going on for several years but has anyone thought to apply the technology to the maple industry?

http://news.discovery.com/tech/interview-sharklet-technologies.html

[BoarsNest]

We do work for various medical cabinetry companies and there is a suggestion to go to copper countertops. So when you remodel your sugar shack go to copper tops!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_properties_of_copper