Portable negative-pressure medical and dental isolation chamber and procedures of use

A portable negative air pressure apparatus for isolating a treatment subject to permit a selected treatment procedure to be performed by a treatment operator. The apparatus comprises an air source connected to a closed chamber for sealable disposition over the head, neck and upper thorax of the treatment subject with the chamber having air ports, in and out. The chamber has rigid clear sides and a plurality of sealed ports, with the ports including sealed armholes for access, and with sealed gloves connected to the sealed armholes. The chamber also has at least one instrument hatch to permit introduction into the chamber of instruments for carrying-out the selected treatment procedure.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to a portable negative pressure isolation chamber. More specifically, the disclosure relates to an apparatus and methods for performing dental and/or medical procedures on a patient wherein both the patient and the dentist or doctor are protected from cross-contamination via substantial isolation by a portable, disposable, transparent negative-pressure medical/dental procedures and isolation chamber. The present disclosure is not limited to any specific device, use, or procedure.

BACKGROUND

Various forms of negative-pressure medical/dental procedure and isolation devices have existed in the prior art for performing various medical procedures on a patient. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,850 which is directed to a Clean Air Tent System. Another such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,406,978 directed to an Environmental Containment Unit.

A further prior art example is set forth in US 2011/0000484 A1, which is directed to Vascular Therapy Using Negative Pressure; U.S. Pat. No. 9,956,325 B2 is directed a Canister for a Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Device; and, U.S. Pat. No. 7,479,103 B2 is directed to a Portable Procedures and Enclosure device.

Other prior art devices and methods include US 2010/0044372 A1, which is directed to Portable Collapsible Chem./Bio. Isolators; and, US 2017/0231848, which is directed to Medical Procedures and Transport Systems.

A Kalamazoo, Michigan company, Schupan Aluminum and Plastic Sales, has similarly disclosed an acrylic cube that is open at the base and the side facing the patient's body. See https://www.woodtv.com/health/coronavirus/kalamazoo-company-makes-cube-to-protect-hospital-staff-from-covid-19/.

Whereas, yet another device is a Portable Procedures Bed for moving infected patients, wherein the collapsible isolator is maintained under negative pressure, and having an exhaust system equipped with HEPA filter treated with bactericidal enzymes. See http://www.nihonika.co.jp/en/t/e_cib-2000s.htm.

However, such prior art devices and methods have had a number of defects and deficiencies, which are substantially ameliorated by the present disclosed portable negative-pressure isolation chamber and procedures thereof. Therefore, a need exists for a system and method of facilitating the synchronization of written work with accompanying audio. The instant disclosure may be designed to address at least certain aspects of the problems or needs discussed above by providing such a portable negative-pressure medical and dental isolation chamber and procedures of use.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure may solve the aforementioned limitations of the currently available systems and methods of patient isolation. In some preferred examples or embodiments, a portable, transparent negative-pressure medical/dental procedures isolation chamber fits over the patient's head, neck, torso or other parts of the body that allows the medical professionals to work on the patient, for example in a dental chair, while decreasing the risk of airborne transmission of transmissible diseases, such as COVID-19 and tuberculosis, but would also protect the staff and surrounding people from exposure to toxic substances, such as when dentists remove amalgam fillings that contain mercury.

The inventive chamber device hereof provides a clean air source to the interior thereof that uses commercially available air purification devices and provides an outflow device that pulls air out of the chamber and into an air filtration/purification system that, in turn, discharges clean air into the environment—all, while creating and maintaining a negative-pressure environment inside the chamber device.

The device has access holes that allow diaphragmatic entry points and sleeved entry into the interior of the chamber for performing procedures on the patient and allowing instruments and materials necessary for treating the patient.

The diaphragms and sleeves are disposable and the device can be easily sanitized between patients to allow rapid turnover of operatories while still maintaining a safer environment. The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplary objectives and/or advantages of the disclosure, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, are further explained within the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIGS.1-2, the portable negative pressure isolation chamber of the disclosure is therein illustrated. The portable negative pressure isolation chamber of the disclosure, however, may take many different forms. The drawings and the description of the portable negative pressure isolation chamber detail several preferred embodiments of the chamber of the disclosure. It should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as but an example of the principles of the disclosed portable negative-pressure isolation chamber and procedures thereof. The disclosure is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the portable negative pressure isolation chamber to the embodiments illustrated.

Referring now to theFIGS.1and2, in one illustrated preferred example or embodiment, a portable, transparent negative-pressure medical/dental procedures and isolation chamber generally10(hereinafter sometimes “the chamber device10”), that fits in this example over the patient's head and neck12, is shown. However, the portable negative pressure isolation chamber is not limited to any particular part of the body, inasmuch as for example a leg that is infected may benefit materially from use of the present disclosed structure and methods. This structure permits the medical professionals (such as, for example, dentists, surgeons, nurses, etc.) to work on the patient's head area and/or neck areas12a,12b. One example would be a patient disposed within a dental chair for dental treatment.

The portable, transparent negative-pressure medical/dental procedures and isolation chamber10of the present disclosed portable negative-pressure isolation chamber and procedures thereof functions (i) to materially decrease the risk of airborne transmission of transmissible diseases, such as COVID-19 and tuberculosis, but also, (ii) to protect the staff and surrounding persons from exposure to toxic substances, such as for example when dentists remove amalgam fillings that contain mercury.

The chamber device10would provide a clean air input source14, such as for example a HEPA and/or UV or other suitable air filter source, connected by an input-hose14ato the interior16thereof, and an outflow air filtration/purification system device18, such as a HEPA and/or UV or other suitable air filter filtration and decontamination source, connected to chamber device10by output-hose18athat pulls air out of interior16of chamber10and into an air filtration/purification system18, that then discharges clean air into the environment20while creating and maintaining a negative-pressure environment in interior16of chamber device10to remove bacteria, viruses, and toxic substances therefrom.

Chamber device10, which may be formed in this embodiment from a substantially rigid frame21and transparent walls22of polycarbonate or acrylic or other suitable transparent and sufficiently rigid substances, has a plurality of access arches or holes24aand24bthereinto and plurality of diaphragmatic entry points26aand26band sleeved entry ports27aand27bin transparent walls22, to provide access into interior16of chamber10to permit medical and/or dental procedures to be performed on the patient. Such sleeved entry ports27a,27bmay thus have gloves sealed around sleeved entry port peripheries27cthereof. Transparent walls22may preferably further include an instrument hatch28for allowing entry thereinto of instruments and materials necessary for treating the patient.

The frame21may have disposable two-sided tape30disposed on the lower edge thereof to provide a modicum of a seal, in order to maintain a substantial negative pressure within chamber device10, although such sealing function of chamber device10need not be air-tight due to the negative pressure therewithin. Of course, when the procedure upon a patient has been completed, such two-sided tape may be removed and discarded, whereupon the on-disposable elements of the disclosed portable negative-pressure isolation chamber and procedures thereof comprising the chamber10and the in-put and out-put hoses14aand18amay be disinfected with suitable means known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant medical fields.

Referring now toFIG.2, in other preferred embodiments, a disposable and flexible patient covering32may be provided to cover substantially the entirety of the patient's head and neck areas12a,12b. Such patient covering32includes sealing means32adisposed at the periphery thereof to seal-off the patients head and neck area12a,12b.

The diaphragms26and sleeves28are formed from suitable disposable materials, which are known in the art. Accordingly, chamber device10can be easily sanitized between patients to allow rapid turnover of operatories, while still maintaining a safer environment. Deposable diaphragms26, sleeves28, patient cover32and a patient wipe (not shown) may be provided in a sealed kit to facilitate efficient use of the disclosed portable negative-pressure isolation chamber and procedures thereof hereof.

Reference in the specification to, “embodiments”, “examples,” “various examples,” “some examples,” etc. means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the examples is included in at least one example of the disclosed portable negative-pressure isolation chamber and procedures thereof. The appearances of the above-referenced phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same example. Reference to examples is intended to disclose examples, rather than limit the claimed disclosed portable negative-pressure isolation chamber and procedures thereof. While the disclosed portable negative-pressure isolation chamber and procedures thereof has been particularly shown and described with reference to several examples, it will be understood by persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed portable negative-pressure isolation chamber and procedures thereof.

It should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the disclosed portable negative-pressure isolation chamber and procedures thereof.

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of example embodiments of the present disclosure have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present disclosure, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements, such as, for example, details of system architecture. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that these and other elements may be desirable for practice of various aspects of the present examples. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, a discussion of such elements is not necessary to be provided herein.

It can be appreciated that, in some examples of the present methods and systems disclosed herein, a single component can be replaced by multiple components, and multiple components replaced by a single component.

Except where such substitution would not be operative to practice the present methods and systems, such substitution is within the scope of the present disclosure. Examples presented herein, including operational examples, are intended to illustrate potential implementations of the present method and system examples. It can be appreciated that such examples are intended primarily for purposes of illustration. No particular aspect or aspects of the example method, product, and/or system examples described herein are intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. A method is here, and generally, conceived to be a sequence of actions (instructions) leading to a desired result. The actions are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. The present disclosure also relates to an apparatus for performing the operations herein.

Specific embodiments have been illustrated and described. Numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the disclosed portable negative-pressure isolation chamber and procedures thereof. The scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the subsequent Claims.