Patent Application
20230356125
The present technology relates to filtration units for aspirating infectious aerosols and spray droplets expelled from a patient's mouth and a method for aspirating such infectious aerosols and spray droplets.
Many patients in hospitals, medical clinics and dental clinics cough and sneeze. As can be seen in
These infectious aerosols and spray droplets can also be expelled from the patient's mouth during certain procedures which can cause the patient to cough and/or have a gag reflex. One example of such a procedure is tracheal intubation. During such procedures, the healthcare workers are in proximity to the patient which can increase the risk of transmission of a virus for example.
Although healthcare workers wear personal protective equipment against these when near such patients, additional protection can be beneficial.
There is thus a desire for a device that can help prevent the spread of infectious aerosols and spray droplets being expelled from a patient's mouth.
It is an object of the present technology to ameliorate at least some of the inconveniences present in the prior art.
The present technology provides a filtration unit for aspirating infectious aerosols and spray droplets expelled from a patient's mouth. The filtration unit has an articulated tube assembly with a hood provided at its end. The articulated tube assembly is mounted to a housing. A fan is mounted in a lower portion of the housing. Two filters are located above the fan. At least one outlet is provided in the filtration unit. In some embodiments, the articulated tube assembly is mounted to an upper portion of the housing and the at least one outlet is provided in the lower portion of the filtration unit.
To use the filtration unit, the fan is first turned on. The hood is then located near the patient's head using the articulated tube assembly. As a result, a low pressure region is created around the patient's head. Should the patient cough or sneeze, infectious aerosols and spray droplets are aspirated with air through the hood. These then travel through the articulated tube assembly and enter the housing. These then travel through the filters which removes infectious aerosols and spray particles from the air. The filtered air is then expelled through the outlet. In embodiments where the articulated tube assembly is mounted to the upper portion of the housing, the at least one outlet is provided in the lower portion of the filtration unit, and the filtered air exiting the filters then travels through the fan before being expelled through the outlet near the floor.
According to one aspect of the present technology, there is provided a filtration unit for aspirating infectious aerosols and spray droplets expelled from a patient's mouth. The filtration unit has a housing defining an air inlet, the air inlet being defined in an upper portion of the housing; an articulated tube assembly having a first end fluidly connected to the air inlet; a hood connected to a second end of the articulated tube assembly; a fan disposed in a lower portion of the housing; and at least one filter disposed in the housing vertically above the fan, vertically above at least one air outlet defined in a lower portion of the filtration unit, and vertically below the air inlet, the at least one filter being disposed fluidly between the air inlet and the at least one air outlet. During operation of the fan, air flowing sequentially through the hood, then through the articulated tube assembly, then through the air inlet into the upper portion of the housing, then through the at least one filter, then through the fan, and then out of the housing via the at least one air outlet.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, the housing has a top, a bottom and a plurality of side walls; the air inlet is defined in the top of the housing; and the at least one air outlet is defined in at least one side wall of the plurality of side walls.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, the at least one air outlet is two air outlets. The two air outlets are defined in opposite side walls of the plurality of side walls.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, the first end of the articulated tube assembly is connected to the top of the housing.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, the first end of the articulated tube assembly includes a rotating socket. The rotating socket is connected to the top of the housing. The rotating socket permits 360 degrees of rotation of the articulated tube assembly about a vertical axis relative to the housing.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, the articulated tube assembly has first, second and third flexible hoses; and first and second rigid tubes. The first rigid tube is connected between the first and second flexible hoses. The second rigid tube is connected between the second and third flexible hoses. The hood is connected to the third flexible hose.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, a handle is connected to one of the second rigid tube, the third flexible hose and the hood.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, the articulated tube assembly has: at least one first self-locking joint connecting the first rigid tube to the first end of the articulated tube assembly, the at least one self-locking joint being disposed externally of the first rigid tube and the first flexible hose; and at least one second self-locking joint connecting the first rigid tube to the second rigid tube, the at least one second self-locking joint being disposed externally of the first rigid tube, the second flexible hose and the second rigid tube.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, the fan has: a fan housing defining a fan inlet; fan blades disposed below the fan inlet; and a fan motor disposed below the fan blades, the fan motor being operatively connected to the fan blades.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, acoustic insulation disposed in the lower portion of the housing.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, at least one baffle wall extending vertically below the fan blades. A lower end of the at least one baffle wall is vertically lower than the at least one air outlet such that air flowing from the fan blades flows generally downward inside the at least one baffle wall, then flows generally outward under the lower end of the at least one baffle wall, then flows generally upward outside the at least one baffle wall, and then flows out of the housing via the at least one air outlet.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, the at least one filter includes a first filter and a second filter. The first filter is disposed vertically above the second filter.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, the first filter is a pre-filter; and the second filter is one of a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and an ultra-low particulate air (ULPA) filter.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, a filter frame is disposed in the housing. The second filter is disposed in the filter frame. A flange is disposed in the housing above the filter frame. A compressible joint is connected to one of a top of the filter frame and a bottom of the flange. A lifting assembly moves the filter frame between a lowered position and a raised position. In the raised position, the compressible joint is compressed between the filter frame and the flange.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, the housing defines at least one access port for providing access to the fan and the at least one filter. The filtration unit also has: at least one door for selectively closing the at least one access port; and at least one compressible joint connected to one of the housing and the at least one door. When the at least one door is closed, the at least one compressible joint surrounds the at least one access port and is compressed between the at least one door and the housing.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, the housing defines at least one access port for providing access to the fan and the at least one filter. The filtration unit further comprises at least one door for selectively closing the at least one access port. The at least one air outlet is defined in one of the at least one door.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, a flange around the at least one air outlet. The flange is configured for connecting a pipe to the filtration unit.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, at least one grille is disposed in the at least one air outlet.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, a plurality of wheels is mounted to a bottom of the housing.
According to another aspect of the present technology, a method for aspirating infectious aerosols and spray droplets expelled from a patient's mouth using a filtration unit is provided. The filtration unit has: a housing defining an air inlet; an articulated tube assembly having a first end fluidly connected to the air inlet; a hood connected to a second end of the articulated tube assembly; a fan disposed in the housing; and at least one filter disposed in the housing vertically above the fan. The method comprises: powering the fan; locating the hood near a head of the patient for creating a low pressure region around the head of the patient; aspirating air from the region such that air flows sequentially through the hood, then through the articulated tube assembly, then through the air inlet into the upper portion of the housing; filtering infectious aerosols and spray droplets out of the air using the at least one filter as air flows generally downward through the at least one filter from the upper portion of the housing to the fan disposed in a lower portion of the housing; and expelling the filtered air flowing from the fan out of the housing via at least one air outlet defined in a lower portion of the filtration unit.
According to another aspect of the present technology, there is provided a filtration unit for aspirating infectious aerosols and spray droplets expelled from a patient's mouth. The filtration unit has a housing defining an air inlet; an articulated tube assembly having a first end fluidly connected to the air inlet; a hood connected to a second end of the articulated tube assembly; a fan disposed in a lower portion of the housing; and at least one filter disposed in the housing vertically above the fan, the at least one filter being disposed vertically between the air inlet and at least one air outlet defined in the filtration unit. The at least one filter is disposed fluidly between the air inlet and the at least one air outlet. During operation of the fan, air flows sequentially through the hood, then through the articulated tube assembly, then through the air inlet into the housing, then through the at least one filter, and then out of the housing via the at least one air outlet.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the housing has a top, a bottom and a plurality of side walls. The air inlet is defined in the top of the housing. The at least one air outlet is defined in at least one side wall of the plurality of side walls.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the at least one air outlet is two air outlets. The two air outlets are defined in opposite side walls of the plurality of side walls.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the first end of the articulated tube assembly is connected to the top of the housing.
According to another aspect of the present technology, a handle is connected to the articulated tube assembly.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the articulated tube assembly has 360 degrees of rotation about a vertical axis relative to the housing.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the articulated tube assembly has: first and second rigid tubes; at least one first self-locking joint operatively connecting the first rigid tube to the second rigid tube; and at least one second self-locking joint operatively connecting the second rigid tube to the hood.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the fan has: a fan housing defining a fan inlet; fan blades disposed below the fan inlet; and a fan motor disposed below the fan blades. The fan motor is operatively connected to the fan blades.
According to another aspect of the present technology, acoustic insulation is disposed in the lower portion of the housing.
According to another aspect of the present technology, at least one baffle wall extends vertically below the fan blades. A lower end of the at least one baffle wall is vertically lower than the at least one air outlet such that air flowing from the fan blades flows generally downward inside the at least one baffle wall, then flows generally outward under the lower end of the at least one baffle wall, then flows generally upward outside the at least one baffle wall, and then flows out of the housing via the at least one air outlet.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the at least one filter includes a first filter and a second filter. One of the first and second filters is disposed vertically above the other one of the first and second filters.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the first filter is a pre-filter; and the second filter is one of a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and an ultra-low particulate air (ULPA) filter.
According to another aspect of the present technology, a filter frame is disposed in the housing. The second filter is disposed in the filter frame. A flange is disposed in the housing above the filter frame. A compressible joint connects to one of a top of the filter frame and a bottom of the flange. A lifting assembly moves the filter frame between a lowered position and a raised position. In the raised position, the compressible joint is compressed between the filter frame and the flange.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the housing defines at least one access port for providing access to the fan and the at least one filter. The filtration unit also has: at least one door for selectively closing the at least one access port; and at least one compressible joint connected to one of the housing and the at least one door. When the at least one door is closed, the at least one compressible joint surrounds the at least one access port and is compressed between the at least one door and the housing.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the housing defines at least one access port for providing access to the fan and the at least one filter. The filtration unit also has at least one door for selectively closing the at least one access port. The at least one air outlet is defined in one of the at least one door.
According to another aspect of the present technology, a flange is provided around the at least one air outlet. The flange is configured for connecting a pipe to the filtration unit.
According to another aspect of the present technology, at least one grille is disposed in the at least one air outlet.
According to another aspect of the present technology, a plurality of wheels is operatively connected to a bottom of the housing.
According to another aspect of the present technology, a method for aspirating infectious aerosols and spray droplets expelled from a patient's mouth using a filtration unit is provided. The filtration unit has: a housing defining an air inlet; an articulated tube assembly having a first end fluidly connected to the air inlet; a hood connected to a second end of the articulated tube assembly; a fan disposed in a lower portion of the housing; and at least one filter disposed in the housing vertically above the fan. The method comprises: powering the fan; locating the hood near a head of the patient for creating a low pressure region around the head of the patient; aspirating air from the region such that air flows sequentially through the hood, then through the articulated tube assembly, then through the air inlet; filtering infectious aerosols and spray droplets out of the air using the at least one filter as air flows generally vertically through the at least one filter; and expelling the filtered air flowing from the at least one filter out of the housing via at least one air outlet defined in the filtration unit.
According to another aspect of the present technology, there is provided a filtration unit for aspirating infectious aerosols and spray droplets expelled from a patient's mouth. The filtration unit has a housing defining an air inlet; an articulated tube assembly having a first end fluidly connected to the air inlet; a hood connected to a second end of the articulated tube assembly; a fan disposed in the housing; and at least one filter disposed in the housing. The air inlet is disposed on a first side of the at least one air filter. The fan is disposed on a second side of the at least one air filter. An air outlet is defined in a portion of the filtration unit downstream of the fan and on the second side of the at least one filter. The at least one filter is disposed fluidly between the air inlet and the at least one air outlet. During operation of the fan, air flows sequentially through the hood, then through the articulated tube assembly, then through the air inlet into the housing, then through the at least one filter, then through the fan, and then out of the housing via the at least one air outlet.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the housing has a top, a bottom and a plurality of side walls. The air inlet is defined in a first wall of the plurality of side walls. The at least one air outlet is defined in a second side wall of the plurality of side walls.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the first and second side walls are opposite to each other.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the first end of the articulated tube assembly is connected to the first side wall.
According to another aspect of the present technology, a rotating socket is configured for connecting at least a portion of the articulated tube assembly to at least one of a ceiling and a bottom portion of an interstitial space. The rotating socket permits 360 degrees of rotation of at least the portion of the articulated tube assembly about a vertical axis.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the articulated tube assembly has: first and second flexible hoses; and first and second rigid tubes. The first rigid tube is connected to the first flexible hose. The second rigid tube is connected between the first and second flexible hoses. The hood is connected to the second flexible hose.
According to another aspect of the present technology, a handle is connected to one of the second rigid tube and the hood.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the fan has: a fan housing defining a fan inlet; fan blades disposed downstream of the fan inlet; and a fan motor disposed downstream of the fan blades. The fan motor is operatively connected to the fan blades.
According to another aspect of the present technology, acoustic insulation is disposed in the portion of the housing housing the fan.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the at least one filter includes a first filter and a second filter. The first filter is disposed between the second filter and the air inlet.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the first filter is a pre-filter; and the second filter is one of a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and an ultra-low particulate air (ULPA) filter.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the housing defines at least one access port for providing access to the fan and the at least one filter. The filtration unit also has: at least one door for selectively closing the at least one access port; and at least one compressible joint connected to one of the housing and the at least one door. When the at least one door is closed, the at least one compressible joint surrounds the at least one access port and is compressed between the at least one door and the housing.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the housing is adapted for mounting to at least one of a ceiling, a top of an interstitial space and the bottom of the interstitial space.
According to another aspect of the present technology, at least one bracket is provided for connecting the housing to the at least one of the ceiling, the top of the interstitial space and the bottom of the interstitial space.
According to another aspect of the present technology, the housing is adapted for mounting to the at least one of the top of the interstitial space and the bottom of the interstitial space, such that the housing is disposed in the interstitial space and at least a portion of the articulated tube assembly extends in a room below the interstitial space.
Embodiments of the present technology each have at least one of the above-mentioned object and/or aspects, but do not necessarily have all of them. It should be understood that some aspects of the present technology that have resulted from attempting to attain the above-mentioned object may not satisfy this object and/or may satisfy other objects not specifically recited herein.
Additional and/or alternative features, aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present technology will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
For a better understanding of the present technology, as well as other aspects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be used in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where:
A filtration unit 20 suitable for aspirating infectious aerosols and spray droplets expelled from the mouth of a patient 10 (
The main components of the filtration unit 20 are a housing 22, an articulated tube assembly 24 connected to the housing 22, a hood 26 connected to an end of the articulated tube assembly 24, two filters 28, 30 disposed in the housing 22, a fan 32 disposed in the housing 22, three doors 34, 36, 38 for providing access to components disposed inside the housing 22, and four wheels 40 mounted to the bottom of the housing 22 for making the filtration unit 20 easily portable.
The housing 22 has a top 42, a bottom 44, and left, right, and rear side walls 46. A front of the housing 22 is generally opened. As best seen in
The housing 22 defines an air inlet 62 (
The components of the housing 22, other than the compressible joints 58, 60, 61 are made of stainless steel, but other materials are contemplated.
With reference to
The articulated tube assembly 24 is connected at one end to the top 42 of the housing 22 so as to be fluidly connected to the air inlet 62. The hood 26 is connected to the other end of the articulated tube assembly 24. The articulated tube assembly 24 has a rotating socket 76 that connects to the top 42 of the housing 22. The rotating socket 76 permits 360 degrees of rotation of the articulated tube assembly 24 about a vertical axis 78 (
The articulated tube assembly 24 also has a flexible hose 80 connected to the rotating socket 76 at one end, a rigid tube 82 connected at one end to the other end of the flexible hose 80, a flexible hose 84 connected at one end to the other end of the rigid tube 82, and a rigid tube 86 connected at one end to the other end of the flexible hose 84. The hood 26 is connected to the other end of the rigid tube 86. The flexible hoses 80, 84 are connected to the rigid tubes 82, 86 and to the rotating socket 76 by gear clamps (not shown), but other types of connectors could be used. The rigid tubes 82, 86 are made of stainless steel, but other materials are contemplated. The flexible hoses 80, 84 are made from medical grade, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved transparent plastic, but other materials are contemplated. The rigid tubes 82, 86 and flexible hoses 80, 84 have a diameter of 5 inches, but other diameters are contemplated. Two self-locking joints 88 connect the rigid tube 82 to the rotating socket 76, and are disposed externally of the rotating socket 76, the flexible hose 80 and the rigid tube 82. Two self-locking joints 90 connect the rigid tube 82 to the rigid tube 86, and are disposed externally of the rigid tubes 82, 86 and the flexible hose 84. It is contemplated that only one self-locking joints 88 and only one self-locking joint 90 could be provided. A handle 92 is provided on the rigid tube 86 to facilitate manipulation of the articulated tube assembly 24. A user can change the position and orientation of the hood 26 by moving it using the handle 92 of the articulated tube assembly 24. Once the hood 26 is in the desired position and orientation, the user releases the handle 92 and the self-locking joints 88, 90 maintain the articulated tube assembly 24, and therefore the hood 24, in position. It is contemplated that the self-locking joints 88, 90 could be omitted, however the user may have to keep holding the hood 26 in the desired position and orientation while the filtration unit 20 is being used. By using gear clamps for providing the various connections and by disposing the self-locking joints 88, 90 externally, the interior of the articulated tube assembly 24 is free of obstacles that could impede the flow of air through the articulated tube assembly 24.
The hood 26 is frustoconical in shape and tapers from its free end toward the rigid tube 86. The hood 26 is made of stainless steel, but other materials are contemplated. The hood 26 has a diameter of 10.5 inches at its free end, but other diameters are contemplated. It is contemplated that an air diverter could be provided in the hood 26 to increase the flow of air therethrough. It is also contemplated that the hood 26 could be provided with a light. The power switch (not shown) of the fan 32 is provided on the hood 26. It is contemplated that the power switch could alternatively be provided on the articulated tube assembly 24 or on the housing 22.
In one embodiment, the combined length of the articulated tube assembly 24 and the hood 26 (i.e. when the articulated tube assembly 24 is straight) is 7 feet. In another embodiment, this combined length is 10 feet. It is contemplated that this combined length could be different in other embodiments.
Returning to
The filter 30 is a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. In an alternative embodiment, the filter is an ultra-low particulate air (ULPA) filter. The filter 30 is slid into the housing 22 via the access port 50. The filter 30 is disposed vertically above the air outlets 66 and the fan 32, and is disposed vertically below the air inlet 62, the air filter 28 and the filter support flange 54. As can be seen in
In the present embodiment, the lifting assembly 114 consists of left and right four-bar linkages 116 which are mirror images of each other. With reference to
It is contemplated that one or more pressure gauges can be used to determine the air pressure upstream and downstream of the filter 30 during operation of the filtration unit 20 to determine when the filter 30 needs to be replaced. In some embodiments, one 0 to 5 inches of water differential pressure gauge is used to compare the pressure upstream and downstream of the filter 30. Other types of pressure gauges are contemplated. Other types of sensors which could be used to determine when the filter 30 needs replacement are also contemplated. It is contemplated that a similar arrangement could be used to determine when the filter 28 needs to be replaced. It is also contemplated that the air pressure comparison could be made between the air pressure upstream of the filter 28 and the air pressure downstream of the filter 30.
It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the filter 30 could be replaced without having to touch the filter 30 directly. This can be achieved by providing what is commonly referred to as a bag-in/bag-out system. In such a system, a medical grade bag is connected to one side of the filter frame 110. When the filter 30 needs to be replaced, this bag is used to remove the filter 30 by placing the filter 30 directly in the bag (i.e. the user only touches the bag and not the filter 30).
With reference to
With reference to
Left and right baffle walls 130 are connected to the bottom of the fan support 56 and extend vertically downwardly therefrom. As such, the baffle walls 130 are vertically below the fan blades 126. The left baffle wall 130 is disposed laterally between the fan motor 128 and the left air outlet 66. The right baffle wall 130 is disposed laterally between the fan motor 128 and the right air outlet 66. The lower ends of the baffles walls 130 are vertically lower than the air outlets 66. Air flowing from the fan blades 126 flows generally downward inside the baffle walls 130, then flows generally outward under the lower ends of the baffle walls, then flows generally upward outside the baffle walls 130, and then flows out of the housing 22 via the air outlets 66. The baffle walls 130, in addition to providing a circuitous path for the air, help reduce the amount of fan noise that is transmitted out of the housing 22 via the air outlets 66. With reference to
Turning to
In an alternative embodiment, it is contemplated that the air outlets 66 could be blocked or omitted, and that the door 38 could define and air outlet. In such an embodiment, a flange is provided around the air outlet. A flexible pipe is mounted at one end to this flange. The other end of the flexible pipe is connected to an air outlet of the room in which the filtration unit 20 is provided, such as an operating room, to expel the filtered air out of the room. As a result, when the filtration unit 20 is operating, a negative pressure is created inside the room (i.e. pressure lower than outside the room) thus helping to prevent airborne contaminants from escaping the room. In another alternative embodiment, one of the air outlets 66 is blocked or omitted and the other air outlet 66 is provided with a flange to permit the attachment of such a flexible tube. It is contemplated that a rigid pipe could be mounted to the flange instead of the flexible pipe. It is contemplated that in such an embodiment, the articulated tube assembly 24 could be removed and that a grille could be provided over the air inlet 62 such that the filtration unit 20 operates to create negative pressure inside the room.
During operation of the fan 32, air flows sequentially through the hood 26, then through the articulated tube assembly 24, then through the air inlet 62 into the upper portion of the housing 22, then through the filter 28, then through the filter 30, then through the fan 32, and then out of the housing 22 via the air outlets 66. The operation of the fan 32 creates a negative pressure (i.e. pressure lower than outside the housing 22) in the portion of the housing 22 where the filters 28, 30 are located, thus preventing dust, aerosols and spray droplets from escaping the housing.
Turning now to
The filtration unit 200 does not have air outlets 66 defined in the lower portion of the side walls 46. Instead, the lower door 38 has been replaced with a door 206 that defines an air outlet 208. The air outlet 208 has a grille 210 disposed therein. As with the air outlets 66, the air outlet 208 if vertically below the filters 28, 30 and the fan 32.
To provide a circuitous air path for the air flowing from the fan 32 to the air outlet 208 and to help reduce the amount of fan noise that is transmitted out of the housing 202 via the air outlets 208, the baffle walls 130 of the filtration unit 20 have been replaced with a baffle wall (not shown) extending laterally in the lower portion of the housing 202. This baffle wall is connected to the bottom of the fan support 56 and extends vertically downwardly therefrom. This baffle wall is disposed longitudinally between the fan motor 128 and the air outlet 208. It is contemplated that the baffle wall could be omitted.
As shown in
Handles 220 are mounted to the doors 34 and 36 to facilitate the installation and removal of the door 34, 36. Handles 222 (
As can be seen in
A differential pressure gauge 226 is mounted to the top 42 of the housing 202, more specifically on the front, right corner of the top 42. The differential pressure gauge 226 is used to determine the air pressure upstream and downstream of the filter 30 during operation of the filtration unit 200 to determine when the filter 30 needs to be replaced. Other types of sensors which could be used to determine when the filter 30 needs replacement are also contemplated. It is contemplated that a similar arrangement could be used to determine when the filter 28 needs to be replaced. It is also contemplated that the air pressure comparison could be made between the air pressure upstream of the filter 28 and the air pressure downstream of the filter 30.
The articulated tube assembly 204 is similar to the articulated tube assembly 94. In the articulated tube assembly 204, the handles 92, 95 have been replaced by handles 228 disposed on opposite sides of the rigid tube 86. A handle 230 is also provided on the rigid tube 82. A gas cylinder 232 is connected between the rotating socket 76 and the rigid tube 82. Another gas cylinder 234 is connected between the rigid tube 82 and the rigid tube 86. The gas cylinders 232 and 234 help to stabilize the articulated tube assembly 204. It is contemplated that one or both of the gas cylinders 232 could be omitted. It is also contemplated that one or more of the handles 228, 230, the gas cylinder 232 and the gas cylinder 234 could be provided on the articulated tube assembly 24 and the articulated tube assembly 94.
A method for aspirating infectious aerosols and spray droplets 12 (
Turning now to
As can be seen, the housing 302 is disposed on its side compared to the housing 202 of the filtration unit 200. As such, although reverence numerals 42, 44 and 46 have been used to label the walls of the housing 302 since they correspond or are similar to the walls 42, 44 and 46 of the housing 202, it should be understood that in the housing 302 the walls 42 and 44 are side walls, one of the walls 46 is the top and one of the walls 46 is the bottom. The housing 302 is oriented as shown to take less space vertically to allow mounting of housing 302 inside an interstitial space 306 of a room 308 where the filtration unit 300 is to be provided. It is contemplated that the room 308 could be an exam room, a procedure room or an operating room for example. The housing 302 is mounted to the top 310 of the interstitial space 306 by legs 312 connected to the top 46 of the housing 302. It is also contemplated that the housing 302 could be mounted to the bottom 314 of the interstitial space 306 by legs similar to legs 312. It is also contemplated that the housing 302 could sit on the bottom 314 of the interstitial space 306 either directly or with a vibration damping pad provided between the housing 302 and the bottom 314 of the interstitial space 306. It is also contemplated that the legs 312 could be replaced by another type of brackets or mounting structure. It is also contemplated that the housing 302 could be mounted between the structural ceiling and a dropped ceiling of a room. It is also contemplated that in rooms that do not have an interstitial space 306, the housing 302 could be mounted to the ceiling or a wall of the room.
The filtration unit 300 is provided with the doors 32 and 34 like the filtration unit 200, but the door 206 of the filtration unit 200 has been replaced with the door 38 of the filtration unit 20. As such the door 38 does not provide an air outlet. The walls 46 also do not provide air outlets. Instead, an air outlet 316 is defined in the side wall 44. The air outlet 316 is connected to a rigid or flexible pipe 318 which is connected to a ventilation system of the building. It is contemplated that the pipe 318 could alternatively exhaust into another room, outside the building or inside the interstitial space 306. It is also contemplated that the pipe 318 could be omitted such that the air outlet 316 exhausts directly inside the interstitial space 306. It is also contemplated that instead of being defined in the side wall 44, the air outlet could be defined in one or more of the three walls 46 downstream of the fan 32. It is also contemplated that instead of being defined in the side wall 44, the door 38 could be replaced with the door 212 described above to define the air outlet 316.
In the illustrated embodiment, the doors 34, 36, 38 providing access to the internal components of the housing 302 (i.e. filters 28, 30, fan 32, etc.) are located on the side of the housing 302. It is contemplated that depending of the orientation in which the housing 302 is mounted and on the space available to remove and install the doors and the filters 28, 30, that the doors 34, 36, 38 could also be located on the top or the bottom.
In the filtration unit 300, the articulated tube assembly 204 of the filtration unit 200 has been replaced by an articulated tube assembly 304. As can be seen, the articulated tube assembly 304 is connected to the air inlet 62 of the housing 302 and extends through the bottom 314 of the interstitial space 306. To facilitate installation of the articulated tube assembly 304, the rigid tube 82 of the articulated tube assembly 204 has been replaced with a rigid tube 320 and a rotating socket 322. The rigid tube 320 connects to the flexible hose 80 and extends vertically through the bottom 314 of the interstitial space 306. The rotating socket 322 connects to the lower end of the rigid tube 320. The rotating socket 322 permits 360 degrees of rotation of the hood 96 and of the portions of the articulated tube assembly 304 located below the bottom 314 of the interstitial space 306 (i.e. elements 84, 86, 98, 234) about a vertical axis 324. It is contemplated that the rotating socket 322 could also permit vertical movement of the hood 96 and of the portions of the articulated tube assembly 304 located below the bottom 314 of the interstitial space 306. It is contemplated that the rotating socket 322 could be omitted in some embodiments. As the housing 302 is fixedly connected and the rigid tube 320 is held in position by the bottom 314 of the interstitial space 306, the rotating socket 76 of the articulated tube assembly 204 has been replaced by a connection tube 326 that provides a rigid connection in the articulated tube assembly 304. For the same reasons, the gas cylinder 232 of the connection tube assembly 204 has been omitted in the articulated tube assembly 304. It is also contemplated that the flexible hose 80 could be replaced by a rigid elbow. Other components of the articulated tube assembly 304 are similar to those of the articulated tube assembly 204 and will therefore not be described again.
In the filtration unit 300, the pre-filter 28 and the filter 30 are more spaced apart from each other than in the filtration unit 200. An ultraviolet (UV) light 328 is provided in the housing 302 in the space between the pre-filter 28 and the filter 30 to assist in sterilization. It is contemplated that UV lights could also be provided elsewhere inside the housing 302.
As the housing 302 is provided in the interstitial space 306, the starter 135 is not provided on the housing 302. Instead, the starter 135 is provided in the room 308 on a wall or at another location where it can be accessed and is electrically connected to the motor 128. Similarly, the differential pressure gauge 226 is not provided on the housing 302. Instead, the differential pressure gauge 226 is provided in the room 308 on a wall or at another location where it can be read and is in communication with the housing 302.
A method for aspirating infectious aerosols and spray droplets 12 (
Modifications and improvements to the above-described embodiments of the present technology may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The foregoing description is intended to be exemplary rather than limiting. The scope of the present technology is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,110,393 | Feb 2021 | CA | national |
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/021,037, filed May 6, 2020 and to Canadian Patent Application No. 3,110,393, filed Feb. 25, 2021, the entirety of both of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2021/053871 | 5/6/2020 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63021037 | May 2020 | US |
