Patent ID: 12257606

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description and in the several figures of the drawing, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The figures are not to scale, and relative feature sizes may be exaggerated for illustrative purposes.

There are described herein three exemplary embodiments of a system for cleaning and sanitizing an MRI magnet room, including vacuum/steam hoses/tubing with steam cleaning capabilities. The first embodiment (FIGS.1-3) is for the case of an existing MRI scanner20already built and operational. A combined vacuum and steam cleaner base unit50with sufficient suction and steam power is installed inside the MRI equipment/computer room10, as it typically has significant magnetic material, such as pumps, tanks and the like. The system tubing/hoses52are connected from the base unit50to connector ports on one side of the penetration panel14A in the wall14. Vacuum/steam tubing/hoses52A are connected to the connector ports on the magnet room via penetration panel14A (FIG.10) inside the magnet room with long enough retractable tubing/hoses sections52A that preferably can reach all four corners of the magnet room with both vacuum and steam. The hoses52A are connected to a handheld or portable dispensing unit70adapted for use in the magnet room.

In an exemplary embodiment, the hoses52A and the dispensing unit are generally free of magnetic material, and may be classified as “MR conditional” items, according to the definitions set out in “MR Labeling Information for Implants and Devices,” Frank G. Shellock et al, Radiology, Volume253, No.1, October 2009, pages 26-30, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference. The hoses and dispensing unit would not typically be in use during an MRI procedure in the magnet room.

FIG.1Ais a diagrammatic diagram of the base unit50and the handheld or portable dispensing unit70. The base unit50includes a vacuum pump50G and a steam generator which includes a water tank50A, a boiler module50B with a boiler/pressure tank, which generates steam from the water. A supply of detergent/disinfectant solution is held in tank50F. A steam/solution mixing valve50C is connected to the boiler module and the tank5OF to mix the solution with the steam. wherein the detergent/disinfectant may be dispensed into the steam prior to leaving the base unit50. A controller50E monitors the water level and shuts off the steam if the water level is low. The steam/solution is conveyed through a hose to the hose assembly connector panel50D. The purpose of steam is for cleaning as well as disinfection of the room and anything else necessary inside the magnet room.

The vacuum pump50G is also connected by a hose segment to the connector panel50D. The pressure side of the pump is connected to a wet/dry collection chamber and then passed through a HEPA filter501for discharge into the atmosphere. The connector panel50D may then be connected to hoses52(not shown inFIG.1A). Ultimately the steam/vacuum lines (not shown inFIG.1A) are connected to the handheld/portable dispensing unit70, connected through extension74to the vacuum/steam head76. The unit70includes controls and status indicators72, which communicates with base unit controls and status indicators50K via a communication link generally indicated as link60. The link may be wireless, wired, or a hybrid, as described more fully below.

It is to be understood that, while a combined steam/vacuum system has been described, the cleaning system may employ only a vacuum system without steam, or only a steam system without vacuum. In the steam only case, the vacuum pump and vacuum hoses may be omitted. In the vacuum only case, the water tank, detergent/disinfectant tank, the boiler module, the controller and the mixer, with the associated steam hoses, may be omitted.

The particulars of the setup depend on the layout of the existing MRI site. The steam and vacuum hoses include an equipment/control room portion52and an MRI magnet room portion52A, connected in the magnet room via the penetration panel14A. The magnet room side of the hoses52A are long enough to reach all corners of the MRI room. After the service the hoses52A can be coiled and stored in the cabinet of the penetrating panel14A. A typical length of the hoses52A may be between 20 to 30 feet.

The hoses52A may be designed to retractable or simply coil and hang on the wall of the penetration panel14A. A jacket may be included to enclose both steam and vacuum hoses. Connectors in the penetration panel provide for the hoses52and52A to be interconnected at the penetration panel or at wall-mounted ports, as shown inFIG.10.

The hoses52A are connected to the handheld or portable dispensing unit70, to be described in more detail below. The hoses52A are preferably substantially free of stiffeners made of magnetic material such as ferrous spring wire. Stiffeners made of stainless steel could be employed; the material is not to be used inside the bore or tunnel of the MRI during imaging. A communication system or link60(FIG.1A), examples of which are described more fully below, allows the user of the handheld unit to communicate with the base unit, in this exemplary embodiment, to control the base unit in supplying vacuum/steam. The communication system is designed for use in the magnet room, preferably without significant magnetic material. The communication system includes a control module or panel powered by a non-magnetic battery and mounted in the unit70(FIG.1A), or alternatively on a wall or other structure within the magnet room (shown in dashed lines inFIG.3).

A second embodiment is configured for the case in which a new magnet room is constructed, so that the system may be integrated with the design. The hoses/tubing54for both steam and air suction connections may be installed in all walls of the MRI magnet room, with several openings or ports with spring loaded vacuum-sealed caps, similar to conventional vacuum systems used in a central vacuum system in some newly built houses. This has the advantage of being strategically neater. The MRI cleaning crew can plug the steam and vacuum hoses52A in any one of the four ports80located on any of the four walls of the MRI suite for cleaning. When use of the cleaning system is finished, the hoses can be disconnected from the ports, and the ports will automatically shut close so no air or steam would be released into the room. SeeFIGS.4-8.

For either the first or second embodiment of the tubing/hose installation, the installation will include a handheld or portable dispensing unit70(FIG.9) in communication with a Signal Controller interface90. By handheld or portable, in the exemplary embodiment, the unit70has a control or handle end manipulated by the user, and a tool or head76through which vacuum and steam are administered to the surface or object. The tool end may have wheels to provide support. The unit70is connected to the distal end of the hoses52A in the magnet room and is substantially free of magnetic material so that it can be used safely in the magnet room. The electronic components may have a small amount of iron and not be totally non-magnetic since the handheld unit is not used over the patient during an MRI or iMRI scan, would not have a negative effect on MRI images, and the mass is so small as to be negligible in relation to the mass of the entire unit70. The unit has dispensing openings to separately deliver suction and steam at the outlet end of the unit. There is typically an extension tube 74, 3 to 4 feet in length, connecting the control head portion70A to the dispensing tool76. The tool76may be interchangeable with other tools, depending on the application.

In an exemplary embodiment, the handheld or portable dispensing unit70includes a head control72(FIGS.1A,9and12-14) which allows the user to control the base unit50, with switches to control vacuum (on/off), steam (on and steam volume selector), and to display the base unit steam tank water level and the steam volume selected by the user.

The interface90assists in communication between the unit70connected to the distal end of the hoses52A. The communication between the two components, the unit70and base/steamer unit50, is configured so that control of the vacuum and steam system may be executed by the user working in the magnet room12, by manipulating controls72on the unit. The controls72in this exemplary embodiment include, but are not limited to, the steam-temperature setting, suction-ON, suction-OFF, steam-ON, and steam-OFF. The communication in exemplary embodiments is via IR/RF/Bluetooth links, via IR/RF/direct wire connections, or by direct wire connections. The communication link is preferably bidirectional so that the handheld unit can control the base unit50and the system status can display on the handheld unit.

A wireless communication interface adaptable to this system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,083,598, Alert System for MRI Technologist and Caregiver, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference.

The IR signal controller interface unit90may be mounted into the penetration panel between the equipment/computer room and the magnet room. This interface90sends the wireless signals of the controls72from the unit70to the vacuum base/steamer50in the Equipment/Computer Room and sends system status signals to the handheld unit70.FIGS.11-13illustrate exemplary embodiments of the IR signal controller interface to control the vacuum handheld unit70and the vacuum base/steamer equipment using Bluetooth/RF/IR.

The signal configuration for the commands between the handheld unit and the vacuum base/steamer of the vacuum System can be linked either via wire or via IR/RF/Bluetooth.

FIG.12illustrates a communication system which provides command signal communication from the handheld or portable unit70to the base vacuum/steamer unit50. The control panel72on the unit70includes a non-magnetic battery72A to power the control panel, and a wireless (RF) receiver/transmitter module72B connected to the panel. The module provides the capability to wireless transmit the control commands from the panel to a corresponding wireless receiver/transmitter unit90A comprising the module90installed in the penetration panel14A. The received signals from90A are converted to IR by IR receiver/transmitter90B on the magnet room side of the panel14A for transmission by IR receiver/transmitter90C through the penetration panel14A to a corresponding IR receiver/transmitter90E on the equipment room side of the penetration panel. A non-magnetic battery90D powers the units90A,90B,90C.

An IR interface90F is connected to the unit90E and converts IR to RF or vice versa. The received commands are sent to wireless receiver/transmitter90G for transmission to the base station50. The transmitted commands are received at wireless receiver/transmitter unit90I on the unit50, which responds to the commands to control operation of the unit50. A battery90H powers the units90E,90F and90G. The communication link further allows status data regarding the base unit50to be communicated to the handheld unit70, so that status information can be displayed on the head control72.

FIG.13illustrates an alternate communication system configuration, in which the same reference numbers refer to the same elements. The difference is that, in this embodiment, the control signals from the IR interface90F are sent directly to the base unit50by a wired connection90J.

FIG.11diagrammatically depicts the interface unit90, positioned in the penetration panel14A, with the reference numbers conforming to those inFIGS.12and13. Circuit boards90-AB and90-FG include the circuitry to perform the functions described above with respect to90A,90B for circuit board90-Aft and with respect to90F,90G for circuit board90-FG. The unit90includes covers90-1and90-2which are transparent to wireless signals. The penetration panel14A is electrically conductive and has an opening14A-1formed therein. Electrically conductive support structures14B and14C are configured to provide a waveguide14D through the opening and also structural support for the circuit boards90-AB and90-FG. Support structure14B has a threaded male end which is passed through the opening14A and is engaged by a female threaded end of the the support14C to secure the structures in place. The waveguide14D prevents RF noise from passing through the penetration panel while allowing IR energy to pass between the IR receiver/transmitters90C and90E.

FIG.14illustrates a further alternate communication system configuration, in which the same reference number refer to the same elements. In this embodiment, the communication link between the handheld unit70in the magnet room12and the base unit50in the equipment/computer room10is a wired link. A low-pass filter100is installed in the penetration panel14opening, between connectors on each side of the panel. The low-pass filter prevents higher frequency noise from passing through the panel. A cable102connects to the base unit50in room10. A non-magnetic cable104connects from the penetration panel to the head control72of the handheld unit70. The communication cables could be bundled with the steam vacuum hoses62and52A.

Although the foregoing has been a description and illustration of specific embodiments of the subject matter, various modifications and changes thereto can be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.