Air treatment system for operating or patient rooms
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Publication Number
US-12016802-B2
Publication Date
2024-06-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
An operating room air treatment system and method for handling airflow in zones in an operating room. The system provides a substantially vertical air flow zone that is located generally peripherally to the operating room table and a substantially central airflow zone that is located generally centrally in the operating room.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention provides an operating room air treatment system that establishes a vertical air flow zone and a non-vertical air flow zone. The vertical air flow zone is located centrally in the room, while the non-vertical air flow zone is located peripherally in the room. The central vertical zone is created by a first air handler, and the peripheral non-vertical zone is created by a second air handler.
The second air handler is spaced apart from the first air handler and is equipped with a decontamination system that decontaminates and cleans air in the non-vertical air flow zone. Cleaned air is delivered or returned back into the non-vertical air flow zone so that at least a majority of the delivered decontaminated or clean air does not breach the vertical air flow zone. The decontamination system comprises both filtration and ultraviolet (UV) radiation that filters or processes air flowing through the second air handler, and each air handler includes a blower.
A further defining aspect is that 100 percent of the decontaminated and cleaned air from the second air handler is returned to the non-vertical air flow zone. The arrangement is presented as using an offset, directional/non-turbulent/oblique airflow approach that avoids cross-currents between zones, including embodiments that reference a central column and a peripheral dirty donut zone separated by an imaginary cylindrical plane or border. Additional embodiments described in the disclosure include room/zone segmentation and optional multiple peripheral units along with common control of multiple decontamination/air handlers.
Claims Coverage
The document identifies one independent claim (clm-00001). It centers on dividing an operating room into centrally located vertical air flow and peripherally located non-vertical air flow zones using first and second air handlers, while ensuring decontaminated air from the second handler is returned and does not breach the vertical zone, with the second handler using filtration and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Centrally located vertical air flow zone and peripheral non-vertical air flow zone
An operating room air treatment system with a vertical air flow zone located centrally in the room and a non-vertical air flow zone located peripherally in the room.
Vertical zone created by first air handler and non-vertical zone created by second air handler
The vertical air flow zone is created by a first air handler, and the non-vertical air flow zone is created by a second air handler, with each air handler including a blower.
Decontamination system in second air handler that cleans non-vertical zone air and prevents breach into vertical zone
The second air handler is spaced apart from the first air handler and the vertical air flow zone, and comprises a decontamination system that decontaminates and cleans the air in the non-vertical air flow zone and delivers or returns the cleaned air back to the non-vertical air flow zone so that at least a majority of the delivered decontaminated or clean air does not breach the vertical air flow zone.
Filtration and ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the decontamination system
The decontamination system comprises both filtration and ultraviolet (UV) radiation which filters or processes the air flowing through the second air handler.
100 percent return of decontaminated and cleaned air to the non-vertical air flow zone
100 percent of the decontaminated and cleaned air from the second air handler is returned to the non-vertical air flow zone.
Across the independent claim, the inventive concept is the use of two spaced air handlers to define centrally located vertical and peripherally located non-vertical air flow zones, coupled with a decontamination system in the second air handler that uses both filtration and UV radiation and returns 100% of cleaned air to the non-vertical zone so that at least a majority does not breach the vertical zone.
Stated Advantages
Improved central-zone air purity.
Reduced or eliminated cross-contamination.
Reduced infection risk.
Maintenance of sterile conditions.
Documented Applications
Use in an operating room and patient room air treatment system having a central vertical air flow zone and a peripheral non-vertical air flow zone.
Zone segmentation embodiments that separate an upper sterile zone from a lower non-sterile zone.
Room segmentation near doors.
Embodiments using return ducts and supply ducts.
Use of multiple peripheral units, including mobile peripheral air handler embodiments.
Common control of multiple decontamination/air handlers.
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