Patent ID: 7679007

Claim:
A modular in-wall medical services unit for supplying a plurality of types of medical services to a room in a structure having a room defined horizontally by a floor beneath and a deck above, wherein the room includes a ceiling mounted a distance below the deck defining a ceiling space, wherein the room is defined vertically at least partially by a wall, the wall comprising a wall space defined on the inside of the room in part by wallboard, and wherein the plurality of types of medical services includes medical gas and electrical services, the unit comprising: an elongate housing supportable inside the wall space behind the wallboard, the housing having an upper end that is sized to extend above the ceiling into the ceiling space; wherein the housing defines a front chamber and a rear chamber, the front and rear chambers extending longitudinally in the housing, the front chamber positioned to be adjacent the back of the wallboard when the unit is installed, and wherein the rear chamber is behind and divided from the front chamber and is divided into a plurality of longitudinal raceways; wherein the housing further defines a plurality of conduit openings, at least one conduit opening extending between each of the longitudinal raceways in the rear chamber and the front chamber; a service cabinet supported in the housing so that it will be below the ceiling when the unit is installed; a plurality of service outlets supported in the service cabinet, the plurality of service outlets including a plurality of electrical outlets and at least one medical gas outlet; a plurality of service conduits including at least one medical gas conduit and a plurality of electrical wires, each wire having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion therebetween, the first end connected to one of the plurality of electrical outlets, the intermediate portion extending through one of the plurality of conduit openings and up through one of the plurality of raceways so that the second end extends out the upper end of the housing.