Germ Killing Technology Debuts at Olympics; Now Available for Local Gymnasiums

NORWICH, CT, August 19, 2012 (Press-News.org) Jaypro Sports announces the launch of the germninja (TM), a new patented device that sanitizes sport balls using ultraviolet light. The Germ Ninja features UVC germ-killing technology and a special design that carefully sanitizes basketballs, volleyballs, playground balls and soccer balls. First used by the medal-winning U.S.A. Volleyball team in their Olympic training centers this summer, the Germ Ninja is now available to the public.

The Germ Ninja was designed to help prevent the spread of disease-causing germs such as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), the flu virus and whooping cough (pertussis) during athletic activity. The threat of these germs is seen in all athletic environments, from elementary school playgrounds to Olympic gymnasiums.

The creator of the Germ Ninja concept, Dr. Arthur Kreitenberg, a clinical professor and board certified orthopedic surgeon, explains how he got the idea to create this device after watching his daughter play sports.

"I created the Germ Ninja to protect my little girl," said Kreitenberg. "When my daughter played indoor volleyball and basketball, I would watch the players lick their hands, then wipe the bottom of their shoes to keep from slipping on the floor and I thought to myself, that's pretty disgusting. Then they serve, pass, shoot, set and spike the ball to each other so that within a couple minutes, if someone has bad germs on their hands or on the floor, all the players are exposed," he said.

Before developing the concept for the Germ Ninja, Dr. Kreitenberg conducted research on sport balls in community gyms and found that around 20 percent of the balls cultured positive for MRSA, a severe drug-resistant bacteria. These findings were not surprising as a 2010 study in the Journal of Environmental Health found that 90 percent of high school training facilities had two or more surfaces contaminated by MRSA.

"My findings made me realize that non-sanitized sports equipment is more than disgusting, it's potentially dangerous," said Kreitenberg.

The Germ Ninja concept is so novel that the United States Patent & Trademark Office granted Kreitenberg a patent for the idea, which has been licensed to Jaypro Sports to design, develop, manufacture and distribute the device. Jaypro, a leader in innovative sports equipment and holder of numerous patents, was the perfect fit for Dr. Kreitenberg's Germ Ninja concept.

To combat dangerous germs, the Germ Ninja utilizes UVC technology with a 254 nm wavelength ultraviolet light sanitizer that is lethal to all microorganisms. The unique design of the Germ Ninja makes the device safe, easy to use and fast; in five minutes, the device can treat 22 volleyballs. After passing through the Germ Ninja, sport balls emerge germ free and residue free with no visible or tactile changes. Sport balls sanitized by the Germ Ninja remain room temperature and are ready for immediate play. The device also uses no chemicals, utilizes recycled plastic in its design, and is made in the U.S.A.

The threat of bacteria spreading through sports equipment is a constant concern for parents, coaches and athletes everywhere. Last September, a MRSA outbreak in Westford, Massachusetts sickened a group of high school athletes. In 2009, the NCAA recommended volleyball programs suspend traditional pre- and post- match handshakes in an effort to limit the spread of H1N1 flu virus. Prior to this summer's Olympic games, the British Olympic Association chief medical officer Dr. Ian McCurdie suggested that athletes should avoid shaking hands with one another to curb the spread of germs.

The Germ Ninja is designed to help in the fight against germ transfer during athletic activities. If you represent a school, university, athletic club or community gym and are interested in acquiring a Germ Ninja please visit http://www.germninja.com for more information.

About Jaypro Sports
Founded in 1953, Jaypro Sports has provided thousands of customers with sports and recreation products across the nation and the globe for 60 years. The Jaypro Sports team harnesses innovative ideas, methods and designs to create and manufacture cutting edge sports equipment that is guaranteed to last long, operate smoothly and improve athletic experiences.

Jaypro Sports specializes in creating patented products that are eco-friendly, safe and durable. The team is committed to keeping the planet safe and clean for future generations, and this philosophy guides all manufacturing processes and the design of many innovative products. For more information visit http://www.jaypro.com.