INFECTIOUS DISEASE ISOLATION MODULE

A disease isolation module for patients, where the module includes an inflatable body adapted to accommodate a bed for a patient, transparent walls on the inflatable body to enable observation of the patient, and a door on the inflatable body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the medical industry and, more particularly to a means of minimizing the spread of infectious diseases in medical arenas.

2. Description of Related Art

The Covid-19 novel corona virus is highly contagious and presents a risk to patients and medical staff in hospitals. Patients are typically arranged on beds in wards with only curtains separating each patient. This creates an environment where each patient is exposed to the contagions of the neighbouring patients. It also makes the ward filled with contagions for medical staff. A major problem is that medical staff are becoming infected with the virus and are dying as a result.

So many people are contracting the corona virus that non-medical arenas (such as stadiums and office blocks) are being commandeered to function as make-shift hospitals. Although this temporarily solves the problem of creating space for medical treatment, it also infects the non-medical arena. Once the non-medical arena has served its purpose as a make-shift hospital, it will have to be returned to its former function. However, this exposes the people who move back into the arena to the risk of infection.

The object of the present invention is to provide a means of containing the spread of an infectious disease in a medical arena.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a disease isolation module for patients, the module comprising:

(a) an inflatable body adapted to accommodate a bed for a patient;

(b) transparent walls on the inflatable body to enable observation of the patient; and

(c) a door on the inflatable body.

The advantage of the inflatable body is that can be rapidly erected with the aid of a pump. Time is of the essence when treating an influx of patients. The more quickly the patient can be isolated the less contagions are spread.

Preferably, module has one or more insertion portals. The insertion portals allow access to the interior of the module without entering the door. The insertion portals may, for example, allow a person to pass through power cables for any electronic equipment placed inside the module.

It is also preferred that the module has a high-efficiency particulate (‘hepa’) air filter machine. More preferably, the hepa air filter machine is placed outside the module and is connected to the module through an insertion portal.

It is also preferred that the module has an air conditioning unit. More preferably, the air conditioning unit is a split system with the air intake outside the module and the air outtake on the inside of the module. More preferably, the air intake is connected to the air outtake through an insertion portal.

It is preferred that the module has air vents. More preferably, the air vents are on the roof of the module. It is also preferred that the air vents have a filter.

The module may have an entry compartment and a bedroom compartment. The entry compartment can act as an air lock to help minimize the amount of contagions that can pass between the bedroom compartment of the module and the outside environment.

It is preferred that the door can be rolled up and affixed to allow the entry and exit of the bed. The door may have zips down each side. The door may be sealed at its base with the hook and loop fastener.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, the disease isolation module10has an inflatable body12. An electric pump (not shown) is connected to a port (not shown) at the base of the body12. The body can be erected using the pump in around one minute.

The ability of the module to be rapidly and easily deployed in emergency conditions during a pandemic outbreak provides a substantial contribution to the working of the invention. There is significant pressure on both ward staff and medical staff to quickly isolate infectious patients. The stress is such that it effects the mental health of the staff, aside from posing a risk to their life from the contagions. The present invention thereby helps hospital staff working on the front line of the war against the pandemic.

The size of the module is adapted to accommodate a bed14for a patient16. Standard hospital beds have a sleep surface of 0.9144 meters (36 inches) in width and 2.032 meters (80 inches) in length. The overall measurements of a standard hospital bed are 0.9652 meters (38 inches) in width and 2.1336 meters (84 inches) in length (from the outside of the headboard to the footboard).

The outer dimension of a large module may be 3 meters (10 feet) in length by 2 meters (6 feet, 6 inches) in width, which provides an inner space of 2.7 meters (8 feet, 10 inches) in length by 1.7 meters (5 feet, 7 inches) in width. The outer dimension of a standard module may be 2.5 meters (8 feet, 2 inches) in length by 1.7 meters (5 feet, 7 inches) in width, which provides an inner space of 2.3 meters (7 feet, 6 inches) in length by 1.4 meters (4 feet, 7 inches) in width. Either model provides working space for equipment or staff alongside the bed within the module10.

The module10has transparent walls18to enable medical staff17to observe the patient16from outside the module10, thereby minimizing the spread of contagions. However, it should be noted that some clear polyvinyl chloride plastics can emit strong odours caused by toxic chemicals such as lead, phthalates, and volatile organic compounds. Therefore, it is preferred that a high-grade clear PVC plastic is selected which emits no odours. Alternatively, white polyester can also be used as side walls which do not emit odours. Another advantage of using white polyster is that it can provide the patient with a greater degree of privacy.

The module10also has an integral floor20which is joined to the walls18. The integral floor20helps to prevent the spread of contagions from underneath the module10to the outside environment. The integral floor20also helps to prevent the spread of contagions onto the surface of the medical arena.

The floor20of the module10is the part of the module10which is most likely to become contaminated. On occasion, substances can be spilled on the floor20. Therefore, the integral floor20is preferably joined to the side walls via hook and loop fasteners. This enables the floor to be removed and disposed between patients to promote a hygienic environment in the module10.

The module10has a door22with a zipper24on the left side and a zipper25on right side (refer toFIG. 5). The door22may be rolled up to allow the bed14to be wheeled in and out of the module10. The door22can be rolled down and sealed with a hook and loop fastener (Velcro™) strap26(as shown inFIG. 4).

The module10has an insertion portal28on the left-hand side of the module10(shown inFIG. 1), an insertion portal30on right side of the module (shown inFIG. 3) and two insertion portals32and34on rear side of the module10(shown inFIG. 5). The insertion portals28,30,32and34allow access to the interior of the module10without entering the door22. For example, the insertion portals28,30,32and34can be used to pass power cables for any electronic equipment placed inside the module10.

An example of an insertion portal is shown inFIG. 7. This insertion portal36has a body38with a flap40that protects a circular passageway42that has a membrane44that closes around any object inserted through a central hole46. Thereby, the insertion portal36helps to prevent the escape of any material, including viruses and bacteria from within the module10. The flap40is spring-loaded in order to close over the body38.

Alternatively, a PVC sock (of approximately 1.5 m in length) can be used as a portal. The sock has a string tie to close it, which gathers around any cables passing into the module10.

The module10has an air extraction machine48(seeFIG. 5) which has high-efficiency particulate (‘hepa’) air filter. The air extraction machine48is placed outside the module10and is connected to the module10through the insertion portal34. The high-efficiency particulate (‘hepa’) air filter prevents contaminated air from escaping the module10. The air extraction machine48creates a negative pressure within the module10. It is important for the effective operation of the module10that the air etraction machine48is not set too high so that it causes the side walls of the module to become concaved.

The module10has an air conditioning system comprising an air intake50outside the module10and the air outtake52on the inside of the module10. The air intake50is connected to the air outtake52through the insertion portal32. The air intake50generates heat, so it needs to be outside the module10so as to avoid heating up the interior of the module10. The air outtake50ensures that the air circulating within the module10remains at a comfortable temperature for the patient.

The module10has air vents54and56which have a filter (seeFIG. 6). The air vents54and56are situated on the roof of the module10so that air flows across the patient. The air is drawn out of the module10using the air extraction machine48, which has a hepa filter to capture contagions. The filtered vents54and56help to protect the patient16from contagions of other patients in the medical arena (e.g. the hospital), which may have different or more virulent strains of contagions.

The module10has a zipper58on its left side and a zipper60on its right side in order to allow medical staff to easily enter and exit from the module10.

In some forms of the invention, the module has an entry compartment and a bedroom compartment. The entry compartment acts as an air lock to help minimize the amount of contagions that can pass between the bedroom compartment of the module and the outside environment.