Patent Publication Number: US-2022226179-A1

Title: Apparatuses and methods for providing an isolation area around an individual

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/138,686 filed Jan. 18, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to the care and treatment of patients under contact isolation. The invention particularly relates to apparatuses configured to provide a physical barrier around an individual that defines an isolation area corresponding to a medical recommendation related to transmission of infectious agents to or from the individual. 
     The earliest years of a person&#39;s life are believed to be of great importance to their overall development. When children between ages zero and three years old are isolated in a hospital room due to an illness, the rate at which they develop can be negatively impacted. Commonly, children with whom contact is limited or restricted due to a weakened immune system (“contact-isolated” children) are unable to leave their rooms or play with other patients because of an increased chance of contracting an illness. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), under generally normal conditions contact-isolated children can come out of their rooms if a three-foot radius of isolation is maintained around the child. The only way to enter the three-foot radius without significantly increasing the risk of spreading illness is when the individual is wearing protective gear, such as a gown, mask, and gloves to prevent passing an infection to anyone else. Research suggests that children in contact isolation would greatly benefit from interactions with environments outside of their hospital rooms and/or with other individuals and that such interactions may enhance their social development and overcome challenges presented by their illnesses. 
     Unfortunately, methods of enabling contact-isolated children to have these desirable interactions have been limited. One method that has been used includes taping off an area of the hospital and transporting the child there. The purpose of the tape is to mark out a visible barrier such that others know not to come excessively close to the child. This method is not ideal since the child must remain within the taped off area and therefore is extremely limited in exploring their surroundings. Furthermore, a visible barrier is not present around the child during transportation between their hospital room and the taped off area. 
     Accordingly, it would be beneficial if methods were available that were capable of assisting contact-isolated children or other individuals in leaving their hospital rooms while maintaining a visible barrier about them representative of a medically-recommended isolation area. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides apparatuses and methods of assisting contact-isolated children or other individuals to leave their hospital rooms (or other living space) while maintaining a visible barrier about them representative of a medically-recommended isolation area. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided that is configured to define an isolation area around an individual. The apparatus includes a frame having two opposing and spaced-apart side walls, an interior region within an interior of the apparatus and defined by and between the side walls, and one or more connecting members spanning the interior region and coupling the opposing side walls. Isolation barriers are coupled to the frame and extend outwardly from the interior region. The isolation barriers are configured to define an isolation zone surrounding the interior region that corresponds with the isolation area around an individual located within the interior region. An opening is providing for access by the individual to and from the interior region within the frame. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for defining an isolation area around an individual based on a medical recommendation related to transmission of pathogens to or from the individual. The method includes providing an apparatus comprising a frame having two opposing and spaced-apart side walls, an interior region within an interior of the apparatus and defined by and between the side walls, one or more connecting members spanning the interior region and coupling the opposing side walls, and isolation barriers coupled to the frame and extending outwardly from the interior region, and then locating the individual in the interior region within the frame so that the isolation barriers define an isolation zone surrounding the interior region that corresponds with the isolation area around the individual. 
     Technical effects of apparatuses and methods as described above preferably include the ability to allow individuals to experience new environments or provide such individuals with mobility while maintaining an isolation area around them to reduce the likelihood of the spread of pathogens. 
     Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be further appreciated from the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  represents a first embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with certain nonlimiting aspects of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  represents a second embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with certain nonlimiting aspects of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  represents a third embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with certain nonlimiting aspects of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The intended purpose of the following detailed description of the invention and the phraseology and terminology employed therein is to describe what is shown in the drawings, which include the depiction of one or more nonlimiting embodiments of the invention, and to describe certain but not all aspects of what is depicted in the drawings. The following detailed description also identifies certain but not all alternatives of the embodiment(s) depicted in the drawings. Therefore, the appended claims, and not the detailed description, are intended to particularly point out subject matter regarded as the invention, including certain but not necessarily all of the aspects and alternatives described in the detailed description. 
       FIGS. 1 through 3  represent various aspects relating to apparatuses suitable for providing mobility for an individual capable of maintaining and/or indicating an isolation zone or area about the individual. The apparatuses are particularly suited for immunocompromised individuals allowing for the individual to move between environments while maintaining a safe distance from other individuals and/or objects. The apparatuses represented in the figures have been tested or otherwise determined to be suitable for allowing immunocompromised children to leave their hospital rooms and interact with other environments and/or individuals while maintaining a predetermined zone or area of isolation, for example, a three-foot (i.e., about one meter) radius surrounding an interior region within the apparatuses within which the individual is positioned and accommodated by structures of the apparatuses. 
     To facilitate the description provided below of the embodiments represented in the drawings, relative terms, including but not limited to, “vertical,” “horizontal,” “lateral,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “forward,” “rearward,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “right,” “left,” etc., may be used in reference to an orientation of the apparatuses during their operation, and therefore are relative terms that are useful to describe the apparatuses represented in the drawings, but should not be necessarily interpreted as limitations to the construction and use of the apparatuses. 
       FIG. 1  schematically represents an apparatus  10  as including a frame  11  supported upon wheels  12  that promote mobility of the frame  11 . The frame  11  defines a pair of oppositely-disposed side walls  13  and an interior region  15  within the interior of the apparatus  10  and defined by and between the side walls  13 . As will be discussed below, the interior region  15  is sized and spaced to accommodate an individual positioned within the apparatus  10 . In the nonlimiting embodiment shown, each side wall  13  includes elongated vertical members  14  and upper and lower horizontal members  16  and  18  between which the vertical members  14  extend. The side walls  13  are coupled to one another by one or more connecting members depicted in the nonlimiting embodiment of  FIG. 1  as spanning the interior region  15  of the apparatus  10 . In the nonlimiting example of  FIG. 1 , the connecting members include cross-members  20  that are depicted in  FIG. 1  as oriented horizontally and interconnecting the upper and/or lower horizontal members  16  and  18  of one side wall  13  with the upper and/or lower horizontal members  16  and  18  of the other side wall  13 . In addition to or as an alternative to the cross-members  20 , the connecting members of the frame  11  may include cross-bracing members  22  that define an x-shaped cross brace between the side walls  13 . Such cross-bracing members  22  may span between oppositely disposed vertical members  14  on the side walls  13 . 
     The frame  11  of the apparatus  10  includes isolation barriers  23  coupled to the upper horizontal members  16  of the frame  11  and extending in directions outward from the interior region  15  of the frame  11 . The isolation barriers  23  define and promote at least a partial isolation area surrounding the interior region  15  of the apparatus  10 . In the nonlimiting embodiment shown, the isolation barriers  23  each define a semi-circular area with an outermost radial extent that defines a portion of an outer perimeter of the isolation area. In particular, the isolation barriers  23  each include a curved member  26 , a chord member  24  spanning ends of the curved member  26 , and one or more brace members  28  between the curved member  26  and the chord member  24 . The chord members  24  of the isolation barriers  23  are coupled to the upper horizontal members  16  of the frame  11  and configured to extend horizontally outward from the interior region  15  of the apparatus  10 , for example, perpendicular to the vertical members  14  of the frame  11 . 
     In the embodiment represented in  FIG. 1 , the interior region  15  within the frame  11  of the apparatus  10  is sized and configured to define two separate regions, including a patient area  50  and a caregiver area  52 . In the embodiment shown, the interior region  15  and each of the patient and caregiver areas  50  and  52  therein are accessible through openings to the exterior of the frame  11  located between the isolation barriers  23 , and the patient and caregiver areas  50  and  52  are separated by at least one of the cross-members  20  and cross-bracing members  22 . The patient area  50  is configured to allow an individual, such as an immunocompromised patient, to remain within the interior region  15  of the apparatus  10  such that the isolation barriers  23  define a substantially continuous isolation area around the individual and whose outer extents are a substantially constant distance from the individual. The caregiver area  52  is provided to allow a caregiver, such as a doctor, nurse, therapist, family member, etc., access to the individual for treatment, assistance, or the like while the individual remains within the patient area  50  within the interior region  15  of the apparatus  10 . Optionally, either area  50  or  52  within the interior region  15  may include various compartments, shelves, hooks, or other components configured to hold items for the individual or the caregiver. For example,  FIG. 1  represents the apparatus  10  as including a storage compartment  30  in the caregiver area  52  and an intravenous (IV) stand  32  for hanging elevated IV bags in the patient area  50 . 
     Optionally, the apparatus  10  may include a raised platform  34  spanning the patient area  50  between the lower horizontal members  18  of the frame  11  as represented in  FIG. 1 . The platform  34  is configured to support an individual within the patient area  50  both while the apparatus  10  is at rest and while the apparatus  10  is moving. The individual may stand on the platform  34 , sit in a wheelchair on the platform  34 , or rest in another position as desired. The platform  34  may include an adjustable ramp  36  to provide wheelchair accessibility as represented in  FIG. 1 . In the nonlimiting embodiment shown, the ramp  36  may be lowered to load a wheelchair thereon and raised to provide clearance when moving the apparatus  10 . The presence of the platform  34  is particularly beneficial when the apparatus  10  is used with an individual that is not capable of manually pushing and maneuvering the apparatus  10 . In such situations, a caregiver or other individual may push the apparatus  10  from within the caregiver area  52  while the patient remains within the patient area  50  on the platform  34 . In other situations in which the individual using the apparatus  10  is independently mobile and capable of pushing and maneuvering the apparatus  10  on their own, the platform  34  may be removed or otherwise omitted from apparatus  10 , in which case the patient area  50  is open to ground such that the individual may walk within the patient area  50  while pushing the apparatus  10 . 
     In the nonlimiting embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  10  can be configured to fold into a collapsed configuration having a reduced size covering a relatively compact area to provide benefits such as promoting ease of movement around tight corners and through narrow passages, as well as ease of storage. For convenience, the configuration of the apparatus  10  represented in  FIG. 1  will be referred to herein as an operational or expanded configuration. For certain nonlimiting embodiments, the apparatus  10  may be folded from the expanded configuration into a collapsed configuration by removing certain components and/or pivoting certain components about respective pivoting joints such that the side walls  13  converge toward one another. For example, the cross-member(s)  20 , cross-bracing members  22 , and platform  34  may include pivoting joints  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  as represented in  FIG. 1 . These components may be pivoted about their respective pivoting joints  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  such that they fold in a manner that allows the cross-member(s)  20  and the cross-bracing members  22  to extend into the caregiver area  52  and the platform  34  to extend upward within the patient area  50 . In addition, the chord members  24  of the isolation barriers  23  may be pivotally coupled to the upper horizontal members  16  such that the isolation barriers  23  are capable of folding downward to be substantially parallel with the side walls  13 . In such embodiments, one or more of the pivoting joints  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  may preferably include locks for maintaining the apparatus  10  in at least the expanded configuration and optionally also the collapsed configuration. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  depict additional configurations of apparatuses  110  and  210  in accordance with further embodiments of this invention. In these figures, consistent reference numbers are used to identify the same or functionally related elements, but with a numerical prefix ( 1  or  2 ) added to distinguish the particular embodiment from other embodiments of the invention. In view of similarities between the embodiments, the following discussion of  FIGS. 2 and 3  will focus primarily on aspects of the further embodiments that differ from the first embodiment in some notable or significant manner. Other aspects of the further embodiments not discussed in any detail can be, in terms of structure, function, materials, etc., essentially as was described for the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  represents the apparatus  110  as having a fixed frame  111  that does not fold into a collapsed configuration from the expanded configuration shown in  FIG. 2 . The apparatus  110  omits the cross-bracing members  22  and the pivoting joints  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  of  FIG. 1 . Instead, the cross-members  120  are reinforced with braces  148  that provide additional rigid support along the upper and lower horizontal members  116  and  118 . 
       FIG. 3  represents the apparatus  210  as having a frame  211  that folds in a manner different from that of  FIG. 1 . The nonlimiting embodiment of the apparatus  210  comprises at least one U-shaped cross-member  220  whose legs define the horizontal members  216  of the frame  211 . The horizontal members  216  are represented as connected to the isolation barriers  223  with combinations of pins  254  and hinges  256 , the latter of which enable the isolation barriers  223  to pivot about and downward relative to the horizontal members  216 , resulting in the expanded configuration shown in  FIG. 3  being converted to a collapsed configuration (not shown). The horizontal members  216  may also be connected with and disconnected from the isolation barriers  223 . The pins  254  interconnect and are preferably capable of providing rigid support between the isolation barriers  223  along horizontal members  216  of the frame  211  in order to secure the isolation barriers  223  in both the expanded and collapsed (folded) configurations of the apparatus  210 . The cross-member  220  is represented as having a hinge  238  that enables it to be folded, thereby enabling the apparatus  210  to be further collapsed. 
     Additionally,  FIG. 3  represents the cross-member  220  as equipped with extendable arms  258  equipped with clamps  260  adapted to attach to frame members of a wheelchair (not shown). The arms  258  are extendable to account for different sizes and configurations of wheelchairs, as nonlimiting examples, in order to attach to horizontal or vertical bars on the backrest of a wheelchair. In this embodiment, wheels for supporting the frame  211  and enabling the apparatus  210  to be maneuvered on a surface are provided by the wheelchair. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of specific or particular embodiments, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, For example, the apparatuses  10 ,  110 , and  210  and their components could differ in appearance and construction from the embodiments described herein and shown in the drawings, functions of certain components of the apparatuses  10 ,  110 , and  210  could be performed by components of different construction but capable of a similar (though not necessarily equivalent) function, and various materials could be used in the fabrication of the apparatuses  10 ,  110 , and  210  and/or their components. As such, it should be understood that the intent of the above detailed description is to describe the particular embodiments represented in the drawings and certain but not necessarily all features and aspects thereof, and to identify certain but not necessarily all alternatives to the particular embodiments represented in the drawings. As a nonlimiting example, the invention encompasses additional or alternative embodiments in which one or more features or aspects of a particular embodiment could be eliminated or two or more features or aspects of different described embodiments could be combined. Accordingly, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any embodiment described herein. It should also be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed above are for the purpose of describing the disclosed embodiments, and do not necessarily serve as limitations to the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the claims.