Abstract:
A retractable containment wall separates an imaging suite into two sections: a “hot” or contaminated section and a “cold” or non-contaminated section. The wall includes a center portion and retractable peripheral portions. Each retractable portion is made up of several panels. Between panels, between a panel and a room wall, and between a panel and the center portion are tongue and groove seals that mate to form seals at seams in the wall when the wall is deployed. Guide pins propagate along a guide track to facilitate transition of the portions between deployed and retracted orientations. The center portion includes a tube that extends into the imaging region of a diagnostic imaging device located in the non-contaminated portion of the imaging suite. The subject is inserted into the tube in preparation for an imaging procedure.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation of PCT/US07/76973 filed Aug. 28, 2007 which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/827,521 filed Sep. 29, 2006, and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/895,487 filed Mar. 19, 2007, the subject of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present application relates to the contamination containment arts. In particular, the application relates to the formation of a parsed imaging suite where one side is contaminated and the other side is uncontaminated through use of a collapsible containment wall and will be described with particular reference thereto. 
         [0003]    Few sites, due to cost and overall floor planning, can be developed for the containment of infectious diseases. In the case of an epidemic, such sites cannot handle the desired potential patient capacity, or may not be close enough in location to the center of the epidemic. In such situations, standard hospitals and care centers would be required to accommodate the potential high volume of patients; such institutions, however, are not equipped or prepared to handle such situations. In case there is a rapidly developing biological epidemic, such sites will need to be prepared to form isolated regions in a timely manner. 
         [0004]    Concerns about bioterrorism, spread of contagions by air travel, and the like, have increased and are still growing in light of the changes that have occurred in recent years. Threats of biological epidemics are a concern for all parts of the world. While work has commenced in research centers to research vaccines and other ways of treating diseases, there still exists a need of dealing with widespread epidemics. 
         [0005]    Medical imaging systems such as magnetic resonance (MR) scanners, gamma cameras, positron emission tomography (PET) scanners, and so forth are advantageously used to examine test subjects in the course of diagnosing and treating infectious diseases. Medical imaging systems, however, are expensive and complex, and they are not readily compatible with an isolated environment. For example, a typical medical imaging instrument includes components that are likely to be damaged by the chemicals or gases typically used in decontamination. Medical imaging instruments also typically include materials and structures that have a high likelihood of trapping and retaining infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, prions, and so forth. Servicing of medical imaging equipment disposed in isolated environments is also problematic. 
         [0006]    In addition to centers that need to be converted into isolation centers to handle biological epidemics, there is also a general need to develop isolation centers that are easier to set up and use, for example, centers that do general research. In such environments, while the biological containment may or may not be life threatening, in all cases it would be desirable to isolate the biological containment from the imaging equipment and the technicians operating and servicing the equipment. In some cases, it is desirable to quickly transition to and from an isolated condition, depending on the nature of the work being conducted. 
         [0007]    In the cases mentioned above, or in any other diagnostic imaging setting, there is a need for adapting or reconfiguring imaging suites for different imaging arrangements. Perhaps a larger imaging suite can be divided into smaller suites that temporarily utilize mobile imaging devices. Two adjacent imaging suites could be combined into a single multi-modality suite that temporarily use a common patient support that translates the patient between modalities without rearranging the patient. Other dynamic suite arrangements are certainly feasible as well. 
         [0008]    The present application provides a new and improved movable, flexible barrier, which overcomes the above-referenced problems and others. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    In accordance with one aspect, a diagnostic imaging suite is provided. A diagnostic imaging apparatus with an imaging region is disposed in the suite. The suite includes first and second permanent walls. A deployable containment wall, in a deployed configuration, spans a distance between the first and second permanent walls and separates the imaging suite into a potentially contaminated section and a non-contaminated section. The wall hermetically seals the contaminated section from the non-contaminates section. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another aspect, a method of creating an isolated imaging environment by constructing a wall is provided. A plurality of panels are extended along a guide track from a permanent wall to a center portion. A junction between the panels and the permanent wall is sealed. A junction between the panels and the center portion is sealed. Junctions between panels are sealed. Then, junctions between the panels and the guide track are sealed. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another aspect, a deployable containment wall for isolating a hot side of an imaging suite from a clean side is provided. A center portion is mounted adjacent an imaging apparatus with an aperture aligned with a patient receiving region of the imaging apparatus. A containment tube is removably connected with the center portion surrounding a patient receiving imaging region of the imaging apparatus. A plurality of deployable panels are hingedly connected with each other and are configured to be movably received in tracks extending along a ceiling and a floor of the imaging suite, such that the panels are movable between a deployed configuration extending between walls of the suite and the center portion and a retracted configuration. Seals seal junctions between the deployable panels, the deployable panels and the center portion, the deployable panels and the permanent walls, the deployable panels and the floor and ceiling, and the containment tube and the center portion such that the contaminated section of the suite is isolated from the non-contaminated side. 
         [0012]    One advantage lies in providing isolated medical imaging capabilities. 
         [0013]    Another advantage lies in conversion of a non-isolated imaging suite to an isolated imaging suite. 
         [0014]    Another advantage lies in upgradeability of imaging suites to have isolation capabilities. 
         [0015]    Still further advantages of the present invention will be appreciated to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understand the following detailed description. 
     
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a top-down view of an extendable wall in accordance with the present application; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a detailed view of the junction of two wall segments of the wall of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a detailed view of the junction between a wall segment and a center wall segment of the wall of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the junction between a wall segment of the wall of  FIG. 1  and a fixed room wall; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a wall portion of the wall of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a top-down view of two wall segments of the wall of  FIG. 1  engaging a guide track; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a portion of the wall of  FIG. 1  in a deployed orientation. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a collapsible containment wall  10  can be deployed to establish an isolated imaging region. In such applications, the wall  10  would isolate a patient handling and loading side from an imaging side, in which the imaging equipment and imaging technicians reside. A containment tube  12  passes through the containment wall  10 , wherein a patient  13  can be transported through the wall and into the imaging region for imaging by the imaging equipment. The containment tube  12  maintains the isolation between the patient  13  on the loading side and the imaging equipment on the imaging side. 
         [0025]    The illustrative embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  includes a fixed center panel  14  and two folding or collapsible wall portions  16 . In such an embodiment, when an isolated imaging suite is to be established, the two end portions  16  fold out from the room walls  18  and seal to the fixed center wall  14 . When fully extended, the wall portions  16  define a “hot side”  20  that is contaminated and quarantined, i.e., the loading side, and a “cold side”  22  that is uncontaminated, i.e., the imaging side.  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4  illustrate exemplary hinges and ends that attach to form seals. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIG. 2  a “piano hinge”  24  holds two panels  26  of the wall portion  16  together. While only two wall panels  26  are shown to form a wall portion  16 , it is to be understood that more panels can be connected depending on the size of the panels  26 , size of the imaging suite, and the like. The wall panels  26  are preferably non-permeable plastic, and resistant to decontamination chemicals typically used in a containment or decontamination. Exemplary material for construction of the panels  26  includes cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) plastic. The panels  26  are thick enough to resist breaking from normal use, but thin enough to establish a balance between breakable and cumbersome. Preferably, the wall panels  26  are about ⅜ thick. The wall panels  26  can be clear, translucent, or opaque. The hinge  24  also allows the wall portion  16  to be folded at the hinge  24 . On the ends of the wall panels  26 , where one wall panel  26  meets another, there is a multiple tongue and groove mating seal  28 . The seal  28  is preferably constructed of high durameter sealing rubber. When the wall panels  26  are extended, the “teeth” of the seal  28  intermesh to create a containment seal between panels  26 . 
         [0027]    With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a clamping assembly  30  between the movable panels  26 , and the fixed wall  14 , includes the multiple tongue and groove seal  28  which mates with a similar tongue and groove section  31  on the end of the center wall  14 . 
         [0028]    With reference now to  FIG. 4 , another “piano hinge” type hinge  24  is connected with an end of the collapsible wall portion  16  where it attaches to the existing room walls  18 . The end of the wall portion  16  adjacent the room wall also has the tongue and groove seal  28  that mate with a rubber sealing sheet  33  mounted to the room wall  18 . It should be appreciated that other types of hinges can be used to allow the wall  10  to fold, and form a sealed wall when deployed. The hinges  24  may include one or more gaskets to ensure an airtight seal. In addition, a foam or liquid sealant may be applied to the hinge to further ensure an airtight seal. 
         [0029]    With reference now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , on one end of a panel  26 , there is a combined hinge/guide track pin assembly  32 . The hinge/pin  32  has an extended end that is received in a guide track  34  on both the floor and the ceiling of the imaging suite. The guide track  34  allows the wall  10  to be quickly deployed while ensuring sufficient mating of the various seals. The guide track  34  provides a tight tolerance path for the panels  26  to open and close and enable satisfactory sealing when the wall  10  is deployed. The edge of the guide track  34  on the side adjacent the wall panels  26  is fitted with a rubber sealing sheet  36  so that the top and bottom of the wall  10  is also sealed when the wall  10  is deployed. The guide track sheet  36  preferably mates with edge sealing sheets  38  that run along the top and bottom edges of the wall segments  26 . The teeth of these sheets run in rows parallel to the floor, that is, effectively 90° with respect to the direction of the teeth on the edges of the panels. At the junction of adjacent panels  26 , a wing  40  extends from the top (or bottom) edge of one panel  26  over the edge of the adjacent panel  26 . The wing  40  provides a complete seal at the joint of the top and bottom edges of the panels  26 . This feature is best visualized in  FIG. 5  (not shown in  FIG. 6 ). The top and bottom of the wall could also include a gasket or other feature to ensure a seal between the containment wall  10  and the ceiling and floor, respectively, of the existing room. 
         [0030]    The fixed center wall  14  can be in place during normal imaging conditions. The fixed center wall  14  is relatively thin and minimally intrusive to standard imaging procedures. The patient  13  would merely pass through a corresponding aperture in the center wall  14  prior to entering the imaging region. Further, the fixed center wall  14  can be decorated or include other features to make it aesthetically pleasing. 
         [0031]    In situations that call for an isolated imaging suite, the detachable containment tube  12  can be quickly attached to a flange  42  located on the fixed center wall. The junction between the flange  42  and the containment tube  12  includes tongue and groove sealant surfaces that are similar to the seals  28  between panels  26 . The wall ends  16  can then be extended from a folded configuration adjacent the room walls  18  and abuttingly sealed to the fixed center wall  14  and each other. In this way, isolation between the hot and cold sides  20 ,  22  of the imaging suite is established. When the isolated conditions are not required, however, the tube  12  can be removed from the center wall portion  14  and set aside, and the panels  26  can be retracted. 
         [0032]    It should be appreciated that the center wall portion  14  does not need to be fixed. It may fold out away from the walls  18  like the other panels  26  or be fixed in place with removable pins, clamps, etc. In such situations, the opening in the containment wall  10  to which the containment tube  12  is attached should be aligned isocentrically with the center of an imaging region of the imaging device. Thus, while a fixed wall  14  ensures alignment of the opening, and hence the tube  12 , alternative registration mechanisms can be put in place to ensure proper alignment of the tube  12 . It should also be appreciated that exact alignment may not be required, but it is preferred. The wall  10  also does not need to fold out away from the existing walls  18 , but instead may come down from the ceiling, up from the floor, include panels that are manually set into place, or any combination thereof. Still even other ways of collapsing the wall  10  can be used. For example, the wall  10  may be one piece, wherein the center is positioned by a set of pins or other registration mechanism and the ends of the wall  10  can then extend or fold out to attach to the existing sidewalls  18 . It should further be appreciated that all such methods of collapsing the containment wall  10  are merely illustrative and that one skilled in the art should understand and appreciate that other methods of collapsing and extending the walls may exist. 
         [0033]    With reference now to  FIG. 7 , the containment wall  10  is shown in a deployed, that is, a sealed orientation. Adjacent the patient tube  12  in the fixed panel  14 , there is a patch panel  50 . The patch panel  50  provides an electronic interface between the contaminated portion  20  and the non-contaminated portion  22  should there be a need to have imaging equipment (such as a local receive coil in a magnetic resonance imaging setting) on the hot or contaminated side. Cables from the device link to the patch panel  50  and then (on the non-contaminated side) connect to the rest of the imaging apparatus, post imaging processors, or the like. 
         [0034]    As can be appreciated, the containment wall  10  can be quickly moved into place whenever isolation is desired, and then removed when a more standard imaging environment is desired. It should be appreciated that the material used for the containment wall  10  should be resistant to decontamination materials. In some embodiments, the wall includes rigid or semi-rigid panels, while in other embodiments the wall or portions of the wall can be formed by a sheath or other flexible material. In some embodiments, the wall or portions of the wall can be disposed after decontamination and replaced with a new containment wall or wall panels. 
         [0035]    The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be constructed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.