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Publication Number
US-10702435-B2
Publication Date
2020-07-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
An air treatment device having a flexible air hose, duct or gooseneck member. The air hose, duct or gooseneck member permits an inlet end thereof to be positioned in proximity to a patient so that a negative pressure can be created around the patient so that air can sucked or vacuumed into the system whereupon it is treated as the air flows through the system.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an air treatment system and mobile air treatment device for use during a surgical procedure in a room, where air near a patient is captured and treated by creating localized negative pressure with an air hose or duct and an associated nozzle positioned in proximity to the patient. A housing includes an inlet and an outlet, and an air treatment device located in the housing irradiates or treats an airflow before it exits the outlet.
The air treatment device further comprises at least one filter and at least one of a chemical irradiator or a biocidal remover located in the housing for reducing or eliminating unwanted pathogens in the airflow. The system additionally includes a nozzle filter associated with the nozzle for providing initial filtration of air passing into the inlet, so that the air is filtered, irradiated and/or treated a plurality of times before exiting the outlet.
In some embodiments, the airflow passes through airflow interrupters or baffles to reduce at least one of air velocity or linearity of flow, thereby increasing a time during which the airflow is subjected to the chemical irradiator or biocidal remover. The nozzle can be detachable or removable and the air hose or duct can be flexible, adjustable gooseneck and/or an elongated semi-rigid duct, while the outlet may vent treated air to atmosphere or provide an outlet adapted for re-entry into a surrounding space and/or mounting to an air duct.
Claims Coverage
The document provides independent claim groups describing an air treatment system, a mobile air treatment device, an air treatment device with flexible hose and treatment elements, a method for treating air around a patient, and a mobile cabinet claim. Across these independent claims, the core coverage includes a housing or cabinet with inlet and outlet, a nozzle positioned near a patient, a vacuum generator creating negative pressure, and an air treatment device that filters and performs irradiation and/or chemical biocidal removal, with optional nozzle-associated initial filtration and airflow interrupters to increase exposure time.
Air treatment system with negative pressure nozzle and housing treatment
An air treatment system for use during a surgical procedure in a room comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet; an air treatment device located in said housing for irradiating or treating an airflow before it exits said outlet, said air treatment device further comprises at least one filter or at least one of a chemical irradiator or a biocidal remover located in said housing for reducing or eliminating unwanted pathogens in said airflow; an air hose or duct adapted to be mounted to said housing in communication with said inlet, said air hose or duct having an inlet end for situating in proximity to a patient situated in said room and a nozzle associated with said inlet; and an airflow generator for mounting in said housing for generating an air stream between said inlet and said outlet and for creating a negative pressure or vacuum in said air hose or duct so that when said nozzle is placed near said patient, the air near said patient is captured and treated by said air treatment device.
Nozzle-associated initial filtration with repeated treatment
wherein said nozzle has a nozzle filter associated therewith for filtering air passing into said inlet to provide an initial filtration of said air, said initial filtration treating said air before it is filtered or treated by said air treatment device and before it exits said outlet so that said air entering said inlet is filtered, irradiated and/or treated a plurality of times before exiting said outlet.
Airflow interrupter to increase exposure time
wherein said air treatment system comprises at least one airflow interrupter in a path of said airflow for reducing at least one of an air velocity of said air stream or a linearity of a flow of said air stream to increase a time which said air stream is subjected to said at least one of said chemical irradiator or said biocidal remover.
Mobile cabinet air treatment device with negative pressure and housing irradiation/chemical treatment
A mobile air treatment device for use with a patient undergoing a procedure, said mobile air treatment device comprising a cabinet having an inlet and an outlet that comprises wheels and is portable; a nozzle that is adapted to be positioned in proximity to the patient; a vacuum generator for creating negative pressure at said nozzle; and said mobile air treatment device being located in said cabinet for irradiating or treating an airflow before it exits said cabinet, wherein when said nozzle is placed in proximity to said patient, the air near said patient is captured and treated by said mobile air treatment device which filters, irradiates or treats the air to reduce or eliminate unwanted pathogens, germs, bacteria, virus and fungi; wherein said mobile air treatment device further comprises at least one filter at least one of a chemical irradiator or a biocidal remover located in said cabinet for reducing or eliminating unwanted pathogens in said airflow.
Nozzle-associated initial filtration in mobile device for multiple treatment passes
wherein said nozzle has a nozzle filter associated therewith for filtering air passing into said inlet to provide an initial filtration of said air, said initial filtration treating said air before it is filtered or treated by said mobile air treatment device and before it exits said outlet so that said air entering said inlet is filtered, irradiated and/or treated a plurality of times before exiting said outlet.
Airflow interrupter in cabinet to increase time of chemical/irradiation treatment
wherein said mobile air treatment device comprises at least one airflow interrupter in a path of said airflow for reducing at least one of an air velocity of said air stream or a linearity of a flow of said air stream to increase a time which said air stream is subjected to said at least one of said chemical irradiator or said biocidal remover.
Flexible hose air treatment device with negative pressure capture and filter/chemical or radiation treatment
An air treatment device which comprises a flexible air hose with an open nozzle at one end comprising an air inlet; a nozzle associated with said air inlet; a vacuum generator which generates negative pressure within said air hose; at least one filter for filtering an air stream emerging from said air hose; at least one of a chemical irradiator or a biocidal remover for chemical or radiation based inactivation of airborne microbes within said air stream; and at least one of an air outlet adapted for re-entry of treated air into a surrounding space and/or an air outlet adapted for mounting an air duct, wherein said air treatment device further comprises said at least one filter or said at least one of a chemical irradiator or a biocidal remover for reducing or eliminating unwanted pathogens in said air stream, said air treatment device filtering and irradiating or treating said air stream after it enters said air inlet and before it exits said air outlet.
Nozzle filter for initial filtration and plurality of treatment stages
wherein said nozzle has a nozzle filter associated therewith for filtering air passing into said air inlet to provide an initial filtration of said air, said initial filtration treating said air before it is filtered or treated by said air treatment device and before it exits said air outlet so that said air entering said air inlet is filtered, irradiated and/or treated a plurality of times before exiting said air outlet.
Airflow interrupter to reduce velocity/linearity and increase treatment time
wherein said air treatment device comprises at least one airflow interrupter in a path of said air stream for reducing at least one of an air velocity of said air stream or a linearity of a flow of said air stream to increase a time which said air stream is subjected to said at least one of said chemical irradiator or said biocidal remover.
Mobile cabinet with repositionable semi-rigid hose, irradiation chamber, and discrete randomly oriented radiation-transmitting objects
A mobile cabinet comprising a mounting for an air hose; a vacuum generator for creating negative pressure in said air hose; an irradiation chamber; an air inlet; an air outlet; an air treatment device wherein a nozzle is removable and disposable, said nozzle being of a larger external diameter than said air hose; wherein said nozzle contains an air filtration element; wherein said air hose is semi-rigid and can be re-positioned; wherein said vacuum generator is a centrifugal blower; wherein said irradiation chamber comprises at least one airflow interrupter for reducing air velocity and linearity; wherein said irradiation chamber comprises a multitude of discrete, randomly oriented, radiation-transmitting objects; wherein said air treatment device further comprises at least one filter or at least one of a chemical irradiator or a biocidal remover for reducing or eliminating unwanted pathogens in an air stream.
Nozzle-associated initial filtration in mobile cabinet for plurality of treatments
wherein said nozzle has a nozzle filter associated therewith for filtering air passing into said air inlet to provide an initial filtration of said air, said initial filtration treating said air before it is filtered, irradiated or treated by said air treatment device and before it exits said air outlet so that said air entering said air inlet is filtered and/or treated a plurality of times before exiting said air outlet.
Method for treating air around patient by negative pressure capture and filter plus chemical or irradiation
A method utilizing an air treatment device for treating air around a patient comprising placing a nozzle in proximity to a patient, said nozzle connected to an air hose; generating a vacuum in said air hose, creating a localized negative air pressure in the proximity of said nozzle; drawing contaminants arising from the patient and in patient proximity into said nozzle; treating said contaminants by at least one filter; treating said contaminants further by at least one of a chemical irradiator or a biocidal remover; venting of treated air into a room or into a duct, wherein said air treatment device further comprises said at least one filter or said at least one of a chemical irradiator or said biocidal remover for reducing or eliminating unwanted pathogens in an air stream, said air treatment device filtering and irradiating or treating said air stream after it enters an air inlet and before it exits an air outlet.
Nozzle filter for initial filtration in method for plurality of treatment stages
wherein said nozzle has a nozzle filter associated therewith for filtering air passing into said air inlet to provide an initial filtration of said air, said initial filtration treating said air before it is filtered, irradiated or treated by said air treatment device and before it exits said air outlet so that said air entering said air inlet is filtered and/or treated a plurality of times before exiting said air outlet.
Airflow interrupter to increase time subject to chemical/biocidal treatment
wherein the air treatment device comprises at least one airflow interrupter in a path of said air stream for reducing at least one of an air velocity of said air stream or a linearity of a flow of said air stream to increase a time which said air stream is subjected to said at least one of said chemical irradiator or said biocidal remover.
Across the independent claims, the invention is directed to capturing air near a patient using a nozzle and vacuum generator to create localized negative pressure, routing the captured airflow through an air treatment device within a housing or cabinet to filter and reduce or eliminate unwanted pathogens via filtration and irradiation and/or chemical biocidal removal, and optionally providing nozzle-associated initial filtration so the airflow is filtered and/or treated a plurality of times. Multiple airflow interrupters are used in the airflow path to reduce air velocity or linearity and increase the time the airflow is subjected to chemical irradiator or biocidal remover, and one independent cabinet claim further specifies an irradiation chamber with discrete randomly oriented, radiation-transmitting objects.
Stated Advantages
Enables use during a surgical procedure in a room by reducing airborne pathogens in treated air stream while capturing and treating air near the patient.
Reduces or eliminates unwanted pathogens, germs, bacteria, virus and fungi in the air stream.
Reduces the patient's risk of acquiring an infection.
Increases a time during which the air stream is subjected to the chemical irradiator or the biocidal remover by reducing air velocity and/or linearity of flow.
Documented Applications
Use during a surgical procedure in a room, where the air near a patient is captured and treated with negative pressure and pathogen-reducing filtration/irradiation/chemical treatment.
Use as a mobile air treatment device for a patient undergoing a procedure.
Venting treated air into a room or into a duct (as an outlet configuration and use case).
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