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Publication Number
US-11185457-B2
Publication Date
2021-11-30
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 for use during a surgical procedure in a room. The system includes a housing with an inlet and an outlet, and an air treatment device located in the housing for at least one of filtering an airflow or irradiating the airflow before it exits the outlet. The housing includes at least one of an irradiator or a biocidal remover as part of the air treatment device.
A flexible air hose or duct is mounted to the housing in communication with the inlet, with an inlet end situated in proximity to a patient in the room. An airflow generator mounted in the housing generates a stream between the inlet and outlet to create a negative pressure or vacuum in the air hose or duct, thereby generating an airflow through the air hose or duct to create a negative pressure around a patient during the surgical procedure.
At least one airflow interrupter or baffle interrupts the airflow so that an airflow velocity is reduced and a linearity of the airflow is interrupted, causing the airflow to have an increased dwell time that the airflow is subjected to the irradiator or biocidal remover. When the at least one airflow interrupter or baffle interrupts airflow through the housing, the airflow passes through the housing non-linearly and substantially simultaneously with the reduction in airflow velocity, which causes increased dwell time and exposure for decontamination.
The invention also includes a mobile air treatment device with a portable cabinet, wheels, a nozzle positioned in proximity to the patient, and an airflow generator creating a primary airflow through the cabinet and a vacuum or negative pressure at the nozzle. The mobile device includes an air treatment device with at least one of filtering an airflow or irradiating the airflow before it exits the cabinet, and the same airflow-interrupting mechanism to increase dwell time and exposure for decontamination before exit.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims, directed to an air treatment system for use during a surgical procedure in a room and a mobile air treatment device for use with a patient undergoing a procedure. Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage is centered on localized negative pressure vacuum at a nozzle or duct near the patient, and an airflow interrupter or baffle that reduces airflow velocity and interrupts linearity to increase dwell time and exposure to an air treatment device that filters and/or irradiates and optionally uses a biocidal remover.
Localized negative pressure airflow for patient-area decontamination
An air hose or duct is mounted to the housing in communication with the inlet, with an inlet end situating in proximity to a patient in the room, and an airflow generator generates an air stream between the inlet and outlet to create a negative pressure or vacuum in the air hose or duct so that the airflow creates negative pressure around a patient during the surgical procedure.
Air treatment device for filtering and/or irradiating treated airflow
An air treatment device is located in the housing for at least one of filtering an airflow or irradiating the airflow before it exits the outlet, and the air treatment device housing includes at least one of an irradiator or a biocidal remover.
Airflow interrupter or baffle for reduced velocity, interrupted linearity, and increased dwell time
At least one airflow interrupter or baffle interrupts the airflow so that an airflow velocity through the housing is reduced and a linearity of the airflow is interrupted, causing the airflow to have an increased dwell time that the airflow is subjected to at least one of the irradiator or the biocidal remover, with non-linear passage through the housing and decontamination exposure.
Portable mobile cabinet generating nozzle-area vacuum and negative pressure
A mobile air treatment device includes a cabinet comprising wheels and is portable, a nozzle adapted to be positioned in proximity to the patient, and an airflow generator for creating a primary airflow through the cabinet and a vacuum or negative pressure at the nozzle.
Mobile cabinet air treatment device for filtering and/or irradiating before exit
An air treatment device is located in the cabinet for at least one of filtering an airflow or irradiating the airflow before it exits the cabinet, and decontaminates at least a portion of the airflow before it exits an outlet of the cabinet.
Airflow interrupter or baffle in the mobile cabinet increasing dwell time and exposure
At least one airflow interrupter or baffle situated in the cabinet interrupts the airflow so that an airflow velocity through the cabinet is reduced and a linearity of the airflow is interrupted, causing the airflow to have an increased dwell time that the airflow is subjected to the air treatment device for decontamination.
Across both independent claims, the core inventive coverage is the combination of localized negative-pressure airflow delivered to the patient area through an air hose or duct or a mobile nozzle, and an airflow interrupter or baffle that reduces velocity and interrupts linearity to increase dwell time and exposure of the airflow to an air treatment device for filtering and/or irradiating, including a biocidal remover, before air exits the housing or cabinet.
Stated Advantages
Enabling use of regular rooms instead of negative-pressure rooms.
Reducing personnel exposure because pathogens enter the device rather than ambient room air.
Documented Applications
Use during a surgical procedure in a room.
Use with a patient undergoing a procedure with a mobile, portable cabinet.
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