Abstract:
There is provided a system for protection/isolation against infections or disease-bearing persons including an enclosure defining at least two chambers, an isolation chamber having at least one entering and exiting closable opening, at least one ambient air inlet and at least one air outlet connectable to a blower/filter, and an airlock chamber juxtaposed the opening having an access and egress closable aperture, means for forming under-pressure in the isolation chamber and airlock chamber, and at least one biological filter operationally connected to the means for forming under-pressure. A method for protecting/isolating against infection or disease-bearing persons, is also provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a system and method for protection/isolation against infections or diseases-bearing persons, as well as to a kit for assembling the system. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a system and method for providing short term isolation space within or adjacent to an unprotected structure against the danger of infection by a person bearing a disease or infection, which should be kept isolated.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     As was experienced during the past SARS epidemic, there is an increasing need for isolation possibilities for persons that are, in fact or suspiciously, infected by an epidemic illness. Such isolation requirement is provided by the use of isolation rooms in special hospitals. Hospitals are situated only in a few places in each country and not in the exact location where there is a real need. Third world countries do not have such isolation spaces at all. Isolation rooms are provided with professional air filtration systems, including blowers, which create an under-pressure inside the isolation space and provide a continuous air filtration process to guarantee that only a minimum of bacteria is present inside of the isolation room and that outside, there will be no infection risk at all. The under-pressure is required, in order to ensure a clear direction of airflow from outside atmosphere to inside to the isolation space in case of leaks or openings. Use of this method assures that no contaminated air will leave the isolation space.  
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It is therefore a broad object of the present invention to provide a system assembled from a kit, that can be deployed at any location such as inside or adjacent to local hospitals that have the need for isolation space. The kit contains all elements needed for isolation purposes, is easily storable, transportable, deployable, installable and grants complete protection against the threat of further infection.  
         [0004]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a protection/isolation system which grants to those people who have to deal with the infected person, i.e., doctors or nurses, some protection even when they are inside of the isolation area. The system is designed in a way that persons keeping in touch with the infected person breathe air that is, with high probability, free of infection potential.  
         [0005]     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a solution enabling medical and nursing personnel to enter and leave the isolation area, without the danger of bringing contaminated air out of the isolation space.  
         [0006]     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided at least one air filtration unit that sucks air through the isolation space and filters in an efficient way before it leaves towards outside. The obtained under-pressure is higher than 10 Pa. The airflow in the isolation space is from top to bottom. Fresh air is first above the level of the patient and the contaminated air most likely only below the level of the patient. The air is replaced in the isolation area as much as possible, e.g., &gt;10 times per hour, without generation of any draught problem for the patient. Since in the air filtration unit bacteria and viruses are kept and may remain alive, means to kill these, can also be applied.  
         [0007]     According to the invention, the above objects are achieved by providing a system for protection/isolation against infections or disease-bearing persons comprising an enclosure defining at least two chambers, an isolation chamber having at least one entering and exiting closable opening, at least one ambient air inlet valve and at least one air outlet connectable to a blower/filter, and an airlock chamber juxtaposed said opening having an access and egress closable aperture, means for forming under-pressure in said isolation chamber and airlock chamber, and at least one biological filter operationally connected to said means for forming under-pressure.  
         [0008]     The invention further provides a kit for assembling such a system for protection/isolation against infections or disease-bearing persons.  
         [0009]     The invention also provides a method for protecting/isolating against infection or disease-bearing persons, comprising providing such a system and operating said means for forming under-pressure in said chambers. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments with reference to the following illustrative figures, so that it may be more fully understood.  
         [0011]     With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.  
         [0012]     In the drawings:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a first embodiment of an isolation space according to the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the isolation space of  FIG. 1 , with an additional filter/blower device at the airlock and a modification thereof;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of an isolation space, according to the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a filter/blower unit of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the filter/blower unit of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention, and  
         [0019]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are isometric, and respectively, cross-sectional views of a bottom rail of a framework defining an isolation space. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     There is illustrated in  FIG. 1 a  first embodiment of a protection/isolation system  2  against infected or disease-bearing persons, according to the present invention. The system  2  is composed of a framework  4 , which advantageously, can be easily assembled and dismantled, e.g., an assembly of rods  6  and suitable interengaging and interlocking joints  8 . The framework  4  is provided with members  10  for anchoring it to the ground, or floor, when provided. To the inside or outside of the framework  4  there is attached at least one pre-configured enclosure  12  made of flexible thin material, impermeable to bacteria, and/or viruses and/or germs. The enclosure  12  is attached to the framework  4  by any suitable means  14 , for example, simple tie strips, band loops or self-locking bands. Care should be taken to keep the floor part flat, even under the influence of under-pressure. This can be achieved by making the floor of a heavier material than that of the walls. In the embodiment shown, there are formed two chambers, an isolation chamber  16  and an airlock chamber  18 , which are in communication via an entrance/exit slot  20  made in the material of the enclosure  12 . The interior of the airlock chamber  18  is accessed via closable slot  22 . The enclosure  12  is also provided with a closable opening  24  for entering bulky equipment into the chamber  16 . The chamber  16  is covered with a ceiling  26  having air inlet holes  28  for obtaining controlled, even distribution of air flowing therethrough. There are also provided above the ceiling  26 , air inlets  30  leading to chamber  16  and an air entry valve  32  leading to the airlock chamber  18 . Air leaves the isolation chamber  16  through a sleeve  34  to a blower/filter unit  36  ( FIG. 2 ). Two service ports  38 ,  40  are located adjacent the sleeve  34 . Optionally, the system  2  is furnished with brackets  42 , facilitating connection to other, like systems, or to stationary structures.  
         [0021]     The system  2  shown in  FIG. 2  is similar to the system  2  of  FIG. 1 , except for the air flow passageway to airlock chamber  18 , which is different. Here, air is sucked in through the air flow distribution ceiling  44  of the airlock chamber  18 , independent from the isolation chamber  16 . Air from the airlock chamber  18  exits the airlock through HEPA filter  46  and, a blower  48  sucking the air from the ceiling  44  through the airlock chamber  18  via the filter  46  to the outside.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated the system  2  according to the present invention, similar to system  2  of  FIG. 2 , however, according to this embodiment, the system does not depict the framework  4 . Instead, the thin flexible enclosure  12  forming the chamber  16  and airlock chamber  18 , as well as other structural elements and units, are suspended and affixed via means  14  and brackets  42  to frameworks or stationary structures disposed within the enclosure or located adjacent thereto (not shown).  
         [0023]     Turning now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , there are depicted details of the blower/filter  36 . Seen is a noise and air directing cover  50 , a blower  52 , and a filter housing  54  having a pedestal  58 . Inside the housing there is disposed the HEPA filtering element  60  and a UV lamp  62  for radiating ultraviolet light. To the housing  54  there is attached a sleeve  64  having a removable cover  66  for storage purposes. A connector  68  facilitates quick connection between the sleeve  64  and housing  54 . Further seen in  FIG. 4  is an electrical switch  70  and pressure drop gauge  72 , as well as an electrical power cord  74 .  
         [0024]     The system  2  for protecting and isolating infected or disease-bearing persons operates as follows:  
         [0025]     Air from the outside is sucked into the isolation chamber  16  via air inlets  30 , passes through the chamber&#39;s perforated ceiling  26  and uniformly flows from top to bottom in a laminar flow, without causing any turbulence, and is propelled out of the chamber through the blower/filter  36  which, in the process, destroys the bacteria by means of the UV radiation from the UV lamp  62  ( FIGS. 1 and 5 ). Outside air can similarly enter airlock chamber  18  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) through its perforated ceiling  44  resulting from the suction action of blower  48  expelling filtered air after passing the filter  46 .  
         [0026]     Hence, bacteria contaminated air which passes through the blower/filter  36  and a closely disposed (e.g., &lt;20 cm) UV lamp, reduces or eliminates the potential risk of infection. Instead of, or in addition to the bacteria destroying UV lamp, the surfaces of the filter may be treated with biocides, such as antibacterial chemical substances.  
         [0027]     Preferably, the under-pressure which is formed and maintained in the chambers, should be higher than 10 Pa. Also satisfactory results are obtained when the airflow created in the airlock chamber is higher than 0.3 m/sec.  
         [0028]     In order to render the system more efficient, there may be provided a sensor, e.g., a volume of movement sensor, indicating entrance of at least one person to the chambers and activating the system.  
         [0029]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a further embodiment of the invention in which the entrance and exit to and from the isolation and airlock chambers are effected through single or double wing doors  76 , 78 , advantageously, swinging doors. Also seen is a portable air-filtering unit  80 , which can easily be propelled into position after erection of the chambers  16  and  18 .  
         [0030]     As described hereinbefore, the isolation and airlock chambers should be kept under the influence of under-pressure. In order to more effectively achieve it, the bottom bars or rods of the framework  4  are structured as illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . Seen in these figures are generally U-shaped rails  82 , partly accommodating compressible, elongated elements  84 , advantageously, tubular elements. In order to retain the elements  84  in place, the elements are wrapped around and held in place by a double layer of the flaps of the flexible material  12  from which the enclosure is made, e.g., by providing at the bottom thereof tubular passages into which preformed elements  84  are inserted, or alternatively, by welding the bottom part around the elements  84 .  
         [0031]     As can be understood, in addition to the weight of the framework  4 , upon causing an under-pressure in the chambers, the rails  82  and elements  84  will be tightly pressed to the ground or floor to maintain the under-pressure inside the chambers. The compressible elements  84  will compensate for unevenness of the floor under the elements, to better seal the framework thereagainst.  
         [0032]     The enclosure  12  may be provided with elongated gloves, so as to facilitate treatment of patients from the outside, without having to enter the enclosure.  
         [0033]     It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrated embodiments and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.