Abstract:
A collapsible, protective containment device isolates a patient in a controlled environment. The containment device has a flexible containment wall, a closure device an air ventilation device and a plurality of ribs. The flexible containment wall is expandable from a collapsed state to define an interior region for receiving at least a portion of a patient therein and providing an impermeable barrier about the portion of the patient, for at least a selected contaminant. The closure device closes the containment wall about the patient to provide a substantially airtight interior region. The air ventilation device provides a gas comprising oxygen to the substantially airtight interior. The plurality of inflatable ribs provided along a length of the containment wall, the inflatable ribs defining one or more air compartments separate from the interior region within the containment wall, the one or more inflatable ribs supporting the containment wall away from the patient.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based on and hereby claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/479,853 filed on Jun. 20, 2003, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The threat to health from biological and chemical contaminants has, if anything, increased over the last several years. The popular press is full of accounts of potential biological attacks which might either be privately or state sponsored. Chemical terrorist attacks have already occurred in various areas of the world and certain governments have engaged in chemical attacks against enemies and even members of their own society. While the risks from chemical attacks are believed to be substantial, in the future the threat of biological attack may continue to increase and may become more significant than chemical attacks.  
         [0003]     Unlike conventional weapons, exposure by rescuers to victims of chemical or biological attack can adversely affect these rescuers. To avoid such affects on rescuers, including medical and transport personnel, it is necessary to isolate the victims of the attack. Additionally, it may be necessary to transport non-contaminated patients through zones that are already contaminated or are under the threat of chemical or biological attack. Meanwhile, in the civilian sector it is increasingly required to treat all emergency patients as potentially infectious and hazardous to personnel and equipment. This requires the use of isolation techniques during transport and treatment.  
         [0004]     In addition to chemical attacks, highly infectious diseases, for which no cure has been found, require isolation. For example, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is easily transmitted, and has severe consequences. Containment is necessary to prevent this disease from spreading.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,241,653, 6,321,764, 6,418,932 and 6,461,290 describe various aspects of known containment devices. Each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,241,653, 6,321,764, 6,418,932 and 6,461,290 is hereby by incorporated by reference.  
         [0006]     In the known containment devices, a containment wall may be supported away from a patient through hoop-like supports. Each support is attached to the containment wall, with a plurality of supports provided along the length of the containment wall. The supports pull the containment wall away from the patient. However, the containment device must be transported before use, and it is difficult to transport the device with the supports fixed to the containment wall. Also, it is difficult to secure the supports to the containment wall in the field. Additionally, the bottoms of the supports are biased away from one another. This could cause the supports to separate from the containment wall (if provided on the outside) or puncture the containment wall (if provided on the inside).  
         [0007]     Known containment devices are also have problems associated with sealing together the open parts of the containment wall. Various proposals have been brought forward regarding closing a top of the containment wall to a bottom of the containment wall. However, it is still difficult to maintain a seal between the top and bottom of the containment wall, which seal will not unexpectedly open and will contain contaminants within the device.  
         [0008]     One of the primary purposes of a containment device is to be able to treat the patient while avoiding infection. Although the patient is usually held within the containment device temporarily, there is a need for the ability to provide at least first aid services. Without the ability to interact with the patient, a containment device is somewhat useless. A simple plastic wrap could be used around the body of the patient and an oxygen mask could be placed around the face of the patient. Although access to the patient is a concern, the known devices have not provided sufficient flexibility. The known devices gave the healthcare worker insufficient latitude in deciding how to treat the patient. In addition, many of the known treatment methods could not be administered to an infectious patient without the healthcare worker risking infection.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     To possibly address the above concerns and/or different concerns, the inventor proposes a collapsible, protective containment device isolates a patient in a controlled environment. The containment device has a flexible containment wall, a closure device an air ventilation device and a plurality of ribs. The flexible containment wall is expandable from a collapsed state to define an interior region for receiving at least a portion of a patient therein and providing an impermeable barrier about the portion of the patient, for at least a selected contaminant. The closure device closes the containment wall about the patient to provide a substantially airtight interior region. The air ventilation device provides a gas comprising oxygen to the substantially airtight interior. The plurality of inflatable ribs provided along a length of the containment wall, the inflatable ribs defining one or more air compartments separate from the interior region within the containment wall, the one or more inflatable ribs supporting a pressure sufficient to support the containment wall away from the patient.  
         [0010]     The closure device may include a first manipulatable zipper seal, first and second flaps and an adhesive flap. The first manipulatable zipper seal is formed from first and second strips provided respectively on the first and second ends of the containment wall. The first and second strips have reclosable interlocking profiles to seal the first and second ends of the containment wall to one another. The first and second flaps are provided on the containment wall and have a second manipulatable zipper seal formed from third and fourth strips provided respectively on the first and second flaps. The third and fourth strips having reclosable interlocking profiles to seal the first and second flaps to one another. The adhesive flap is provided on the containment wall such that the first flap is attached to the containment wall between the first end of the containment wall and the adhesive flap. The adhesive flap has an adhesive strip and a release layer to seal the adhesive flap to a sealing position on the containment wall after the release layer have been removed. The sealing position is located such that the second flap is attached to the containment wall between the second end of the containment wall and the sealing position.  
         [0011]     To treat the patient, the containment device may have an adapter, a removable container, an injection unit, and a cap. The adapter is sealed to a flexible sleeve and has an inner circumference that defines an aperture. The removable container holds patient fluid. The removable container fits within the aperture in the adapter and has a sealed end that temporarily opens when pierced. The injection unit is fastened to the flexible sleeve and has first and second ends. The first end has a needle to pierce the patient&#39;s skin, and the second end is in fluid communication with the first end and has a tip to pierce the sealed end of the container. The cap connects to the adapter to hold the second end of the injection unit within the sealed end of the container.  
         [0012]     For flexibility in treatment, the containment device may have an aperture in the containment wall and first through third aperture sealing units. The first aperture sealing unit seals the aperture from the at least one contaminant and provides a first access to the patient. The second aperture sealing unit seals the aperture temporarily while the first aperture sealing unit is still attached to the aperture. The third aperture sealing unit covers the aperture while the second aperture sealing unit is attached to the aperture. The third aperture sealing unit provides a second access to the patient.  
         [0013]     To improve access, the containment device may have a sleeve extending form the containment wall to define an aperture in the containment wall. In this case, the sleeve has inner and outer circumferences. The outer circumference has inner and outer grooves exterior to the interior region. The inner groove accommodates a first aperture sealing unit which provides access to the patient. The outer groove accommodates a third aperture sealing unit which provides access to the patient. The inner groove is closer to the containment wall than the outer groove. The inner circumference of the sleeve receives a second aperture sealing unit while the first aperture sealing unit is being replaced by the third aperture sealing unit.  
         [0014]     The containment device may have a call unit provided within the interior region. The call unit has an alert unit and an activation mechanism manipulatable by the patient to trigger the alert unit and request patient attention from outside of the interior region. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an isolation device according to one aspect of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a containment wall shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3A  is a back perspective view of the isolation device shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3B  is a side view of a device which could be used to inflate ribs of the contaminant device;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are side views of a sealing mechanism to seal the top and bottom of the containment wall to one another, showing an unsealed and sealed relationship, respectively;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a prospective side view of the sealing mechanism, showing the containment device as sealed;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is an outer prospective view of one side of the sealing mechanism in a partially sealed configuration;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of an interlocking seal profile shown in  FIGS. 4-6 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8A  is a side cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment for the sealing mechanism;  
         [0025]      FIG. 8B  is a side view of a clipping fastener, which can be used to seal the sealing mechanism shown in  FIG. 8A ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an adapter which fits within an access hole shown in  FIG. 1 , with a glove attached to the adapter;  
         [0027]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are side and cross-sectional views, respectively, of the adapter shown in  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  is a top view of an O-ring;  
         [0029]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of a temporary seal device;  
         [0030]      FIG. 13  is a side sectional view of a blood sampling adapter;  
         [0031]      FIG. 14  is a top view of the adapter shown in  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 15  is a side view of an injection unit to be used with the blood sampling adapter shown in  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of a cap, which fits on the blood sampling adapter shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 17  is a side view of a sampling container, which connects to the injection unit shown in  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0035]      FIG. 18  is a side cross-sectional view of a help call signaling device and associated components. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0036]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.  
         [0037]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an isolation device according to one aspect of the invention. In  FIG. 1 , the isolation device is shown as having a bottom  10  and a top  20 . Although the bottom  10  and top  20  are shown as being formed of different pieces material, it is certainly possible that a single piece of material could function as both the top and bottom. The material may be polyvinyl chloride or other material suitable for maintaining a sealed relationship between a patient and a medical worker.  
         [0038]     A patient would lie within an interior region  30 . The patient would be placed within the interior region  30  if that the patient would otherwise have a potential to create a condition of harm to others, for example by spreading an infectious disease. Reference numeral  40  represents a stretcher, which could be used to transport the patient to a facility that has more permanent equipment for infection isolation.  
         [0039]     The top  20  and bottom  10  together define a containment wall. The isolation device or “pod” is shown as being open. Accordingly, a lip  200  of the top  20  is not in contact with the bottom  10 . When the containment device is occupied by a patient, the top  20  and bottom  10  would ordinarily be sealed to one another.  
         [0040]     The containment device has access holes  50 , which allow access to the patient. Glove  60  represents one way to access the patient. The glove  60  has an outer end which is sealed to the corresponding access hole  50  such that contaminants cannot escape to the environment through either the glove  60  or the corresponding access hole  50 . A medical worker can reach his hand into the access hole  50 , fit his hand into the glove  60  and provide assistance to the patient.  
         [0041]     In one embodiment, the containment wall is formed from a flexible material. When the top  20  and bottom  10  are sealed to one another, pressure inside the containment device may be less than or greater than the pressure outside of the containment device. If the interior region  30  is at a positive relative pressure, then the pressure assists in maintaining the containment wall away from the patient. However, even if such a positive pressure condition exists, it is still necessary for the containment wall to be supported while loading the patient into the device. To support the flexible material of the containment wall away from the patient, inflatable support ribs  100  are provided.  FIG. 2  is a top view of the containment device, showing the inflatable ribs  100  in particular. As can be seen, there are top ribs  105 ,  110 , which extend substantially the length of the containment device. Rib  105  is shown toward the front of the device, and rib  110  is shown toward the back of the device. Extending down from the top rib  105  toward the front of the device, front lateral ribs  115  provide support. These are the ribs that are most visible in  FIG. 1 . Opposite the front lateral ribs  115 , back lateral ribs  120  extend down the back of the containment device. Connecting ribs  125  extend across the containment device, between the top ribs  105  and  110 .  
         [0042]     As can be seen, all of the ribs are connected. When the containment device is collapsed for shipping prior to use, the ribs would be deflated. However, when preparing the containment device for use, the ribs would be inflated through an inflation unit  130 . Although the exact positioning of the inflation unit  130  may be varied, it is shown on the back side of the containment device, towards the bottom of one of the back lateral ribs  120 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 2  shows the top  20  of the containment wall. Reference numeral  200  represents an edge or lip of the top  20 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 3A  is a back perspective view of the isolation device shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3A  shows the back lateral ribs  120  and the inflation unit  130 .  FIG. 3A  also shows a dragging flap  80  attached to the containment wall. The dragging flap  80  has handles  85  which can be used to drag the containment device for short distances, for example, when a stretcher is not present.  
         [0045]     When it is necessarily to inflate the ribs  100 , the inflation unit  130  is activated, perhaps by connecting a pump to the inflation unit  130 , by triggering a gas cartridge located within the ribs  100  or by puncturing an external gas cartridge, which is sealed to the inflation unit  130 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 3B  is a side view of a device which could be used to inflate ribs of the contaminant device. In  FIG. 3B , reference numeral  132  represents a carbon dioxide canister having a nozzle  133 . A connector  134  receives the nozzle  133  and is inserted into the inflation unit  130 . A pull trigger  136  is attached to the connector  134 . When the pull trigger  136  is pulled, the CO 2  canister  132  is punctured, allowing the gas to permeate the ribs  100 .  
         [0047]     Regardless of the source, the gas travels from the inflation unit  130  toward the intersection of the corresponding back lateral rib  120  and the top back rib  110 . From this intersection, the gas permeates throughout the ribs  100  to inflate each of the ribs.  
         [0048]     One-way membranous valves may be provided to isolate ribs from one another. For example, if each rib is connected to the top back rib  110 , a one-way membranous valve may be provided at the intersection of each rib and the top back rib  110 . The top back rib  110  would be unobstructed so that air can freely flow through the top back rib  110 . However, the one-way membranous valves only allow air to flow in a direction from the top back rib  110  to the lateral ribs. In this manner, if one of the lateral ribs  100  is punctured, air cannot flow into the punctured rib from the remainder of the ribs. Air can only flow out of the punctured rib. With the provision of one-way membranous valves, deflation of the ribs may be more difficult. However, the containment device may be designed as a one-time use device, which can be disposed of by hazardous waste disposal personnel.  
         [0049]     In  FIG. 2 , the lateral ribs are connected to each other through both the top back rib  110  and the top front rib  105 . Alternatively, the top front rib  105  could be eliminated. As a further alternative, one-way membranous valves could also be provided at the intersection of each lateral rib and the top front rib  105 . It is also possible to use one way membranous valves to separate portions of the device instead of to separate individual ribs. For example, if the isolation device is supported by four sections of ribs, a central chamber could supply air to each section. To prevent the sections from interacting, one-way membranous valves could be positioned at the intersection of each section and the central chamber.  
         [0050]     The above describes the ribs as being filled with a gas, such as air or carbon dioxide. If the patient has to be transported by aircraft, there could be significant pressure changes between when the patient is loaded into the containment device and when the patient is transported. In this case, it would be highly undesirable for the ribs to puncture or collapse under the changed pressure conditions. To prevent this, the ribs  100  may alternatively be filled with a polyurethane injection foam sealant similar to the building insulation foam sold under the name Great Stuff™ by Dow Chemical Corporation of Midland Mich. This foam spreads from the inflation unit  130  to the remainder of the ribs. After injection, the foam hardens.  
         [0051]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are side views of a sealing mechanism to seal the top and bottom of the containment wall to one another, showing an unsealed and sealed relationship, respectively.  FIG. 5  is a prospective side view of the sealing device showing the containment device as sealed.  FIG. 6  is an outer prospective view of one side of the sealing device, in a partially closed configuration.  
         [0052]     In order to seal the top half  20  to the bottom half  10 , there are two reclosable interlocking profile zipper seals and one adhesive seal. A first interlocking zipper seal is formed between a top lip  220  and a bottom lip  210 . Both the top and bottom lips  220 ,  210  have interlocking seal profiles  230 . The shape of the profiles are complimentary such that when the two profiles are pushed together, a seal  235 , similar to that used for food storage bags, is created. In addition, a second zipper seal is formed between a top primary flap  240  and a bottom primary flap  250 . As with the top and bottom lips  220 ,  210 , the top and bottom primary flaps  240 ,  250  have interlocking seal profiles  230 . The profiles are complimentary, such that a similar seal  235  can be formed between the top and bottom primary flaps  240 ,  250 . As a further measure of safety, an adhesive flap  260  is provided. At the end of this flap, an adhesive member  262  is provided. The adhesive member is shown in  FIG. 4A  as being covered by a release sheet  264 .  
         [0053]      FIG. 6  shows both the seal between the top and bottom lips  220 ,  210  and the seal between the top and bottom flaps  240 ,  250 .  FIG. 6  also shows that these two seals are sealed in different directions. That is, the seal between the top and bottom lips  220 ,  210  is formed by moving a zipper  236  from left to right. The seal between the top and bottom primary flaps  240 ,  250  is formed by moving a zipper  236  from right to left. Thus, for the top and bottom lips  220 ,  210 , there is a seal to the left of the zipper  236 , and there are separated interlocking seal profiles  230  to the right of the zipper  236 . For the seal between the top and bottom primary flaps  240 ,  250 , there is a seal  235  to the right of the zipper  236 , and there are separated interlocking seal profiles  230  to the left of the zippers  236 . By having the zipper  236  moving in opposite directions, a better seal may be formed. That is, for the seal between the top and bottom lips  220 ,  210 , the weakest part of the seal will be to the right of the zipper  236 . For the seal between the top and bottom primary flaps  240 ,  250 , the weakest part of the seal will be to the left of the zipper  236 . These “weakest parts” are separated by substantial distance. Accordingly, if a contaminant escapes from the lower seal (between top and bottom lips  220 ,  210 ), the contaminant would need to travel a substantial distance before reaching the weakest part of the upper seal (between top and bottom primary flaps  240 ,  250 .  
         [0054]     In  FIG. 6 , the top and bottom lips  220 ,  210  can be seen through the top and bottom primary flaps  240 ,  250 . This is because both the top and bottom primary flaps  240 ,  250  and the containment wall having the top and bottom lips  220 , 210 , may be formed of a flexible transparent material. One possible benefit of transparency is that the patient can be observed through the material. On the other hand, it is of course possible that the containment wall and the top and bottom primary flaps  240 ,  250  may be formed of a translucent or opaque material.  
         [0055]     In  FIG. 5 , the zipper  236  is shown for the seal between the top and bottom lips  220 ,  210 . The zipper  236  for the seal  235  between the top and bottom primary flaps  240 ,  250  would be to the left of what is shown in  FIG. 5 . That is, the upper seal is formed by moving the zipper from right to left. In  FIG. 5 , the upper seal is shown as being formed. Therefore, the zipper  236  must have been moved to the left, past what is shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0056]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the interlocking seal profiles shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . Reference numeral  235  shows that when the interlocking seal profiles  230  are sealed to one another, the seal  235  is formed.  
         [0057]     As to the sealing procedure, first, the top and bottom lips  220 ,  210  are sealed to one another. To do this, the top and bottom lips  220 ,  210  are brought into close contact with each other by pulling back the primary flaps  240 ,  250  and the adhesive flap  260  from their positions shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . The reclosable seals are then closed by drawing the zipper  236  along the seam between the top and bottom lips  220 ,  210 . As the zipper  236  is pulled forward, a seal is formed between lips  220 ,  210 , behind the zipper  236 . In order to open the seal, the zipper  236  is simply drawn in the opposite direction.  
         [0058]     Once the seal between the top and bottom lips  220 ,  210  has been formed, then the top and bottom primary flaps  240 ,  250  are sealed to one another in a similar manner. Specifically, the top and bottom flaps are brought into contact with each other in the vicinity of the interlocking seal profiles  230  provided thereon. A zipper  236  is attached (if not already attached) between the top and bottom primary flaps  240 ,  250  in the vicinity of the respective interlocking seal profiles  230 . The zipper  236  is drawn along the intersection of the two flaps to create a seal behind the slide.  
         [0059]     After the top and bottom lips  220 ,  210  and the top and bottom primary flaps  240 ,  250  are both sealed, then the adhesive flap  260  is secured. In  FIG. 5 , adhesive flap  260  is shown as extending from the top  20 . However, the adhesive flap  260  could also extend from the bottom  10 . To secure the adhesive flap  260 , the release sheet  264  is removed from the adhesive member  262 . Then, the adhesive member  262  is pressed into place onto the opposite side. That is, if the adhesive flap  260  is provided on the top  20 , then the adhesive member  262  is secured to the bottom  10 .  
         [0060]      FIG. 8A  is a side view of an alternate embodiment for the sealing mechanism. In  FIG. 8A , the top and bottom lips  220 ,  210  are replaced by top and bottom extension members  280 ,  270 . Each of the top and bottom extension members  280  and  270  has a pair of interlocking seal profiles  230 . The opposing interlocking seal profiles  230  can be reclosably sealed together to form two interlocking seals. After this has been completed, the adhesive flap  260  is secured to the bottom  10  via the adhesive member  262 .  
         [0061]     In order to close the reclosable seals, manual pressure can be used. Alternatively,  FIG. 8B  is a side view of a clipping fastener  290 , which can be used with the seals shown in  FIG. 8A . The clipping fastener  290  has projections  291  which are placed on the top and bottom extension members  280 ,  270 , opposite from the interlocking seal profiles  230 . The projections  291  apply a sufficient amount of the pressure to the interlocking seal profiles  230  in order to close the seal. The clipping fastener  290  shown in  FIG. 8B  has a depth D, which corresponds to the distance of the respective interlocking seal profiles  230  from the distal end of the top or bottom extension members  280 ,  270 . If the two seals are to be sealed independently, the depth D would correspond with the targeted seal. Alternatively, if the two seals are to be sealed simultaneously, two sets of opposing projections  291  would be provided on the clipping fastener  290 .  
         [0062]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an adapter  310 , with a glove  60  attached to the adapter  310 . The adapter  310  fits within an access hole  50  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 10A and 10B  are side and cross-sectional views respectively of the adapter  310 . The adapter is shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B  as having four grooves  312 ,  314 ,  316 ,  318 . Not all of the four grooves  312 - 318  are necessary, as will be apparent from the functioning described below. The adapter  310  also has an extension ring  320 . The adapter  310  may be formed from nylon, glass-filled nylon or a plurality of other conventional thermo-plastic materials. The adapter  310  may be formed by injection molding, for example. The adapter  310  is placed into a hole in the containment wall having approximately the same size as the outer diameter OD of the adapter  310 . In this manner, the extension ring  320  overlaps the containment wall. The adapter  310  is secured to the containment wall via the extension ring  320 . This can be done by heat welding (radio frequency or ultrasonic), which partially melts corresponding portions of the containment wall and the extension ring  320  until the two are permanently attached. The extension ring  320  can also be sealed to the containment wall through known adhesives.  
         [0063]     The adapter  310  allows the glove  60  to be replaced with a new glove. This may be desired, for example, when there is damage to an original glove. The adapter  210  also allows the glove  60  to be replaced with various other care devices, such as a blood sampling device. All of this can be done without allowing contaminants to escape from the interior region of the containment device.  
         [0064]     Replacement of a glove  60  will now be described. Referring to  FIG. 9 , the glove has an outer border  61 , which ordinarily rests within the groove  316 . A tie wrap  330  may be used to provide additional assurance that the glove  60  will not be accidentally removed from the adapter  310 . The tie wrap  330  may rest with the groove  314 .  
         [0065]     Referring to  FIG. 10B , the adapter  310  has first and second O-ring grooves  322 ,  324 , formed on the inside of the adapter  310 .  FIG. 11  is a top view of an O-ring  326 . The O-ring  326  can be fit into groove  322  or groove  324 . With the O-ring  326  and the O-ring grooves  322 ,  324 , the glove  60  is held against the inner circumference of the adapter  310 . Positioning the O-ring  326  within groove  324  prevents contaminants from moving up between the glove  60  and the inner circumference of the adapter  310 . Positioning an O-ring within groove  322  is somewhat optional, but groove  322  also helps with the seal.  
         [0066]     To replace the glove  60  with a difference accessory, the tie wrap  330  is removed. If there is an O-ring within the first O-ring groove  322 , this O-ring is removed. At this point, only the O-ring in the second O-ring groove  324  is sealing the glove. Then, the outer border  61  of the glove  60  is slid out of the groove  316  and moved to the top  340  of the adapter  310  until the outer border  61  retracts to a smaller diameter. The glove  60  is moved into the adapter  310  with the O-ring  326  still resting within the second O-ring groove  324 . Then, a new accessory is fit over the adapter  310 . Like the glove  60 , the new accessory is a resilient, stretchable sleeve with an outer border  61 . The outer border  61  of the new accessory is fit into groove  316 . Then, a tie wrap and at least one O-ring are used to secure the new accessory. When inserting an O-ring  326  into the second O-ring groove  324  for the new accessory, the old O-ring, which held the glove  60 , is pushed out of the second O-ring groove  324 . At this point, the glove  60  is released from the adapter  310  so as to fall within the interior region  30  of the isolation device. The glove  60  can remain within the interior region without disturbing the patient. Since the containment device may be 100% disposable, it is possible for the glove  60  to never be removed from the interior region  30 .  
         [0067]     Ordinarily, a glove  60  provides a seal between the patient and the caregiver. However, if something should puncture the glove  60 , the seal could be compromised.  FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of a temporary seal device. If the glove  60  is damaged, then the temporary seal device is inserted into the adapter  310  from the top opening  340 . The temporary seal device has a ring shaped air bladder  360  having an outer diameter which is approximately the same size as the inner diameter ID of the adapter  310 . A pair of compression plates  370  are provided interior to the ring shaped air bladder  360 , on opposing sides of the air bladder  360 . The air bladder  360  is bonded and sealed to the compression plates  370 . A compression mechanism  380 , shown as a threaded rod with a wing not, is used to control the spacing between the two compression plates  370 . When the compression plates  370  are separated from one another, such that the air bladder  360  is at its full height, the outer diameter of the air bladder  360  is slightly smaller than the inner diameter ID of the adapter  310 . This allows the temporary seal device to be inserted into the adapter  310 . When the compression mechanism  380  is tightened and the compression plates  370  are moved toward one another, the height of the air bladder  360  decreases, causing the air bladder  360  to expand outwardly to tightly hold the glove  60  against the inside of the adapter  310 .  
         [0068]     Inserting the temporary seal device is the first step when a glove  60  or other accessory is damaged. After the temporary seal device is installed, the tie wrap  330  can be removed. With the temporary seal device in place, the risk of contamination is substantially eliminated. The outer border  61  of the glove  60  can be slid out of the groove  316  and over the top end  340  of the adapter  310 . After the outer border  61  is moved over the top  340 , a new accessory is fit over the glove  60 . The outer border  61  of the new accessory is fit into groove  316 .  
         [0069]     At this point, the new accessory can be secured to the adapter  310  with a tie wrap. The compression mechanism  380  is manipulated through the resilient stretchable sleeve of the new accessory so as to release the temporary seal device from the inner circumference of the adapter  310 . Then, both the damaged glove  60  and the temporary seal device are moved into the containment device. This displaces the O-ring of the old glove  60  which is still resting within the second O-ring groove  324 . The temporary seal device and the damage glove  60  can be moved into the containment device from the top end  340  using manual manipulation and the flexible characteristics of the new accessory attached to the adapter  310 . The damaged glove  60  and temporary seal device can also be pulled into the interior of the containment device from the bottom end  350  using a glove provided on an adjacent access hole.  
         [0070]     A groove  318  is provided on the bottom side  350  of the adapter  310 , below the extension ring  320 . When the adapter  310  is connected to the containment device, the groove  318  is within the interior of the containment device. The groove  318  can accommodate an outer border  61  of a glove or an outer border of another accessory. However, because the groove  318  is located toward the bottom end  350 , the glove or other device which is fastened to the groove  318  would ordinarily not be replaceable. That is, once a glove is removed from groove  318 , it would be difficult to place another glove around groove  318 .  
         [0071]      FIG. 13  is a side sectional view of a blood sampling adapter  400 . The adapter  400  has an extension ring  410  which is sealed to a flexible material. Ordinarily, the flexible material would not be the containment wall. The flexible material would be analogous to the sleeve of the glove. That is, the flexible material would allow health caregiver to manipulate a blood sampling device (to be described below) within the blood sampling adapter  400 . The extension ring  410  has an outer circumference  411 .  
         [0072]      FIG. 14  is a top view of the adapter  400  shown in  FIG. 13 . The adapter  400  has two inner circumferences  412  and  414 . The inner circumference  412  has a circular cross section, whereas the inner circumference  414  has a rectangular cross section.  
         [0073]      FIG. 15  is a side view of an injection unit to be used with the blood sampling adapter shown in  FIG. 13 . The injection unit  420  has first and second outer circumferences  422 ,  424  which match the inner circumferences  412 ,  414  of the blood sampling adapter  400 . That is, the outer circumference  424  has a rectangular cross section, and the outer circumference  422  has a circular cross section. At one end of the injection unit  420 , a needle  426  may be provided to pierce the patient&#39;s skin. At the other end, a piercing outlet device  428  may be provided to allow blood to travel from the needle  426  to a sampling container. An intervenous line connector may be used in place of the needle  426 .  
         [0074]      FIG. 17  shows a sampling container  430 , which connects to the injection unit  420  shown in  FIG. 15 . The sampling container  430  has a reclosable seal  432  which is pierced by the piercing outlet device  428  when blood is being received. When the piercing outlet device  428  is removed from the reclosable seal  432 , the seal  432  closes to shut the opening made for the piercing outlet device  428 .  
         [0075]     The injection unit  420  may have a valve mechanism such that blood can only flow out of the piercing outlet device  428  when in contact with the reclosable seal  432 . Ordinarily, the injection unit  420  would be secured to the blood sampling adapter  400 , perhaps with an adhesive or heat welding. With the valve mechanism, the injection unit  420  maintains a containment seal between the patient and the health caregiver. Because the containment device shown in  FIG. 1  may be used for only a single patient, there is not a danger of disease being transmitted through reuse of the needle  426 .  
         [0076]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of a cap  440 , which fits on the blood sampling adapter  400  shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . The cap  440  has threads  442  which interlock with threads  416  provided on the blood sampling adapter  400 . In this manner, the cap  440  is screwed onto the blood sampling adapter  400 . The cap  440  has inner circumferences  446 ,  448 , which match outer circumferences  434 ,  436  provided on the sampling container  430 . The cap  440  also has a length L, which matches a length L of the sampling container  430 . The sampling container  430  is placed within the cap  440 . When the cap  440  is screwed onto the blood sampling adapter  400 , the piercing outlet device  428  pierces through the reclosable seal  432 , and blood is drawn. Thereafter, the cap  440  is removed, and the bodily fluid within the sampling container  430  is ready for testing.  
         [0077]      FIG. 18  is a side cross-sectional view of a help call signaling device and associated components. In  FIG. 18 , a hand held switch  510  can be held by the patient. When the patient needs help, the patient triggers the switch  510 . The switch  510  sends a signal along a communication link  520 . The communication link  520  may be a pneumatic or electrical communication link. Alternatively, the communication link  520  may be a wireless link. The signal travels through the communication link  520  to an alert device  530 . In traveling, the signal passes through the containment wall, represented by reference numeral  15 . The containment wall  15  may either be formed of the bottom  10  or top  20  of the device. To fasten the communication link  520  to the wall  15 , without spreading contaminants, a sealed aperture  540  is provided. The aperture  540  is sealed to the containment wall  15  by adhesive, RF welding or other conventional techniques. The sealed aperture  540  is secured to the communication link  520  by a pressure seal and/or an adhesive seal.  
         [0078]     The communication link  520  is connected to the alert device  530 , as described previously.  FIG. 18  schematically shows the alert device  530  embodied as a light bulb. However, various other alert devices may be used, such as a speaker and an amplifier system (if the switch  510  is replaced with a microphone). An alert sound device may be used in addition to or in the alternative to the light.  
         [0079]      FIG. 18  shows the alert device  530  being provided exterior to the interior region of the containment device. On the other hand, the alert device  530  could be incorporated into the containment device as long as the signal for help could be transmitted through the containment wall  15 . For example, if the containment wall  15  is transparent, and the alert device  530  were a simple light, then a light could be directly attached to the switch  510 , within the interior region of the containment device.  
         [0080]     The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.