Patent Application
20210331004
Healthcare workers/providers typically wear various protective gear when caring for patients with certain diseases and viral infections, in order to reduce the healthcare workers potential risks of contracting such diseases and viral infections. Core practices currently implemented include the healthcare worker's use of protective eyewear, and a mask or face shield, to protect the mucous membranes of their eyes, nose and mouth during any procedures and activities likely to generate any splashes or sprays of any secretions, bodily fluids, blood, and the like from patients being attended to.
Face shields, in particular, are commonly used by healthcare workers who take care of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) patients and those with potential COVID-19 infections. The virus that causes COVID-19 may be transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Because a significant reservoir of the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 is within the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx and larynx, specialists in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (Ear, Nose & Throat or ENT) and Dental Medicine who perform procedures on these anatomic regions may have significant work-related exposure to such viral particles and patients having such procedures performed are also at risk of exposure.
Such face shields 10 are illustrated in
While healthcare workers/providers wear various protective gear to reduce their risk of exposure, the patient may be left exposed to any diseases and viral infections that can be transmitted from the healthcare workers tending to the patient. In addition, should the protective gear being worn by the healthcare worker fail, there may be no additional measures for protecting the patient and the healthcare worker from any airborne viruses and/or bacteria that may be in the room.
It has been recommended that some medical offices be configured as Airborne Infection Isolation Rooms (AIIR) (also referred to as negative pressure rooms or areas) for the performance of medical procedures. AIIR serve to trap any potential harmful airborne viruses and/or bacteria and prevent those airborne viruses and/or bacteria from leaving the space of the AIIR, thereby isolating anyone outside the room from exposure to the patient's airborne viruses and/or bacteria. Such AIIR are expensive to build and retrofit to medical buildings and facilities. In addition, they can be cost prohibitive for mid-size and small medical practices.
Accordingly, there is a need for a protective equipment that can be worn by the patient to protect the patient and/or healthcare workers from diseases and viral infections. There is a further need for a protective equipment that can be worn by the patient to protect the patient and healthcare workers from diseases and viral infections while the patient undergoes medical procedures. There is a further need for a disposable protective equipment that provides a personalized negative pressure protective equipment for each patient.
According to an aspect, the exemplary embodiments include a protective equipment. The protective equipment includes a face shield including a body having an upper peripheral edge and a lower peripheral edge. At least one port is formed in the body. According to an aspect, the port is spaced apart from the upper peripheral edge and the lower peripheral edge. The protective equipment may further include an extended member secured to the lower peripheral edge of the face shield. The extended member may be particularly suited for substantially inhibiting or trapping micro aerosolized particles from traversing the extended member.
In another aspect, the exemplary embodiments include a protective equipment including a face shield and at least one port. The face shield and the at least one port may be substantially configured as described hereinabove. According to an aspect, the protective equipment further includes a barrier positioned in the least one port.
Further embodiments of the disclosure are associated with a protective equipment including a face shield and an airflow system. The face shield may be configured substantially as described hereinabove. The face shield includes an upper peripheral edge having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end. A circumferential edge portion extends between the first end and the second end of the upper peripheral edge of the face shield. The airflow system includes an air valve positioned adjacent the upper peripheral edge of the body of the face shield, and an air outlet positioned adjacent a lower portion/lower peripheral edge of the circumferential edge portion of the face shield. The air valve is configured to receive and filter air from an environment external to the face shield, and the air outlet is configured to pull air expelled by the patient away from the patient's face and filter/clean the expelled air.
A more particular description will be rendered by reference to exemplary embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying figures. Understanding that these drawings depict exemplary embodiments and do not limit the scope of this disclosure, the exemplary embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Various features, aspects, and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components throughout the figures and detailed description. The various described features are not necessarily drawn to scale in the drawings but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to some embodiments.
The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to limit the scope of the disclosure or the claims. To facilitate understanding, reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures.
Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments. Each example is provided by way of explanation and is not meant as a limitation and does not constitute a definition of all possible embodiments.
Embodiments described herein relate generally to protective equipment that is particularly suited for patients undergoing medical procedures related to the ear, nose, and oral cavities (including the throat). To be sure, the protective equipment described herein may also be used by persons who are not undergoing medical procedures, but persons seeking additional protection against the transmission or contraction of various viral and bacterial infections, such airborne viral and bacterial infections.
For purposes of illustrating features of the embodiments, exemplary embodiments are introduced and referenced throughout the disclosure. These embodiments are illustrative and not limiting and are provided for illustrating the exemplary features of a protective equipment as described throughout this disclosure.
In an embodiment, at least a portion of the face shield 110 is transparent. At least a portion of the face shield 110 may be opaque. The face shield 110 may be fully transparent, partially transparent, or fully opaque. According to an aspect, the face shield 110 includes at least a portion that is transparent, such as the area around the patient's eyes, ears, or mouth. The face shield 110 may include a transparent portion around the patient's eyes so that the patient can see through it.
The face shield 110 may be composed of a number of materials. According to an aspect, the face shield 110 includes a thermoplastic or thermoset film. According to an aspect, the face shield 110 includes a fibrous material. The face shield 110 may include polyester, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene-co-polyacrylonitrile, polyolefins, such as polyethylene or their copolymers, polycarbonate, polyacrylates, such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl acrylate or their copolymers, polysulfone.
As illustrated in
According to an aspect, the port 114 has an inner diameter of up to about 0.5 centimeters (cm). The port 114 may include a plurality of ports 114, each port 114 of the plurality of ports 114 being configured substantially as described hereinabove. In this configuration, each port 114 is spaced apart from another port 114 by at distance between about 0.5 cm and about 2.0 cm. In order to facilitate access to the nose or oral cavity, the face shield 110 may include rows of ports 114 that accommodate instruments having an outer diameter of up to about 0.5 cm in diameter. The ports 114 may be positioned in the sides of the face shield 110 to facilitate access to the ear of the patient.
The barrier 130 may include a polymeric material or a copolymer. According to an aspect, the polymeric material includes rubber, silicone, or polypropylene. As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the barrier 130 may be composed of any material that is sufficiently deformable to provide access to the patient's facial orifices when an instrument is positioned therethrough, but sufficiently stiff so that it closes the gap between the instrument and the periphery 115 of the port 114.
According to an aspect, the plurality of protrusions 136 comprises multiple flexible layers. As illustrated in
According to an aspect, the protective equipment 100 further includes an extended member 120 secured to the lower peripheral edge 113b of the face shield 110. The extended member 120 may include a flexible and breathable material configured to substantially inhibit or trap micro aerosolized particles from traversing the extended member 120.
The extended member 120 includes a first end 122 secured to the lower peripheral edge of the face shield, and a second end 124 spaced apart from the first end. The first end 122 is removably secured to the lower peripheral edge 113b of the face shield 110. The first end 122 may be permanently secured to the lower peripheral edge 113b of the face shield 110. According to an aspect, the first end 122 is secured to the lower peripheral edge 113b in such a manner as to minimize the release of micro-aerosolized particles when the patient coughs, sneezes, or exhales, or when inhibit the contamination of the patient of micro aerosolized particles when the healthcare provider coughs, sneezes, or exhales. It is contemplated that the protective equipment 100 may inhibit up to about 95% of micro aerosolized particles from traversing the protective equipment 100.
According to an aspect, the second end 124 of the extended member 120 includes a securing mechanism 126. The securing mechanism 126 is configured to secure the extended member 120 to a body portion of the patient in order to further limit micro aerosolized particles traversing the protective equipment 100. The securing mechanism 126 may include at least one of a pressure sensitive adhesive or weights. When the securing mechanism 126 includes the pressure sensitive adhesive, the second end 124 may be taped to the patient's skin.
According to an aspect and as illustrated in
The shoulder harness 140 may further include straps 144 to help secure the shoulder harness 140 to the patient's shoulders. The straps 144 may be configured with Velcro or any other fasteners to ensure that the shoulder harness 140 cannot be accidentally released from the patient's shoulders.
One or more portions of the shoulder harness 140 may include a plastic material or a fibrous material. According to an aspect, the body portion 142 of the shoulder harness 140 includes a plastic material and the straps include a fibrous material.
Embodiments of the disclosure are further associated with a protective equipment 100 including a face shield 110 and an air flow system 200.
The face shield 110 may be configured substantially as described hereinabove and illustrated in
The face shield 110 includes a body 112 having an upper peripheral edge 113a having a first end 117a and a second end 117b. A circumferential edge portion 113c extends between the first end 117a and the second end 117b. The circumferential edge portion 113c includes a lower portion/lower peripheral edge 113b. According to an aspect, at least a portion of the circumferential edge portion 113c is contoured to the patient's head or face. As illustrated in
The face shield 110 is configured for being worn by a patient to minimize exposure of a healthcare worker to the patient's bodily fluids, bacteria and/or viruses. The body 112 of the face shield 110 further includes an inner surface 111a and an outer surface 111b. When the face shield 110 is being worn by the patient, the inner surface 111a faces the face of the patient, such that the inner surface 111a is exposed to the air expiry of the patient. On the other hand, the outer surface 111b is opposite the face of the patient and is open to the environment. The face shield 110 may be generally contoured to fit the patient's face, while also leaving a space or gap between the patient's face and the inner surface 111a of the body 112 to ensure that sufficient space is provided to facilitate the flow of air. According to an aspect, the upper peripheral edge 113a and the circumferential edge portion 113c is contoured to at least a portion of the patient's head. According to an aspect and as illustrated in
According to an aspect and as illustrated in
The extended member 120 may either drape on top of or around the patient's body in order to cut off air flow so that it only goes through the face shield 110. According to an aspect as illustrated in
The air flow system 200 is illustrated in
The intake valve 210 is positioned adjacent the upper peripheral edge 113a of the body 112. The air valve 210 may be movable between open and closed positions. The intake valve 210 may also be configured to receive and filter air from the environment external to the face shield 110. According to an aspect, the air valve 210 is a passive valve that receives air from the external environment. In this configuration, the air valve 210 only operates when air is pulled through it—this can occur when the patient breathes in or when air is pulled by a vacuum by an air outlet mechanism (described in further detail hereinbelow). A user, such as the patient, may take normal breaths, without having air being forced into the internal environment of the face shield 110. The air valve 210 may be equipped with one or more filters 212 configured to filter the air from the environment external to the face shield 110 prior to the filtered air being received into the internal environment.
The air outlet 220 is positioned adjacent a lower portion/lower peripheral edge 113b of the circumferential edge portion 113c. The air outlet 220 may be configured to pull, via a vacuum-type suction or pull, the air expelled by the patient away from the patient's face and filter/clean the expelled air. When the patient exhales, the exhaled/expelled air only travels to the air outlet 220 where it can be filtered. The expelled air may be transported in a direction towards the extended member 120.
The intake valve 210 and the air outlet 220 work together such that when a patient breathes in, the patient has access to air form an environment external to the face shield 110, and when a patient breathes out, the vacuum-configured air outlet 220 pulls the expired air away from the face shield 110 so the expired air can be filtered. The path of the patient's inhaled air and exhaled air, when wearing the protective equipment 100 including the face shield 110 and the air flow system 200, may be function similar to the flow path of air in a negative pressure room. As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the air flow system 200 facilitates the entrance of air into the face shield 110 so the patient can inhale the air, then pulls the patient's exhaled air out of the face shield 110. After the expired air is filtered by one or more filters 224 (
As illustrated in
The second end 227b of the hose 226 may be connected to the air valve 210 positioned adjacent the upper peripheral edge 113a of the body 112 (not shown). According to an aspect and as illustrated in
As described hereinabove and illustrated in
It is contemplated that one or more of the components of the protective equipment 100 (for example, the face shield and the extended member) may be suitable for one-time/single use, so that they are discarded after patient use. Alternatively, the components of the protective equipment 100 may be suitable for appropriate sterilization and disinfecting procedures after use.
It is contemplated that one or more portions of the protective equipment 100 may include a fibrous material/fabric. The fibrous material may include a fibrous batt, such as a nonwoven batt, a nonwoven fabric, and other fibrous structures or composites, which generally include individual fibers or threads which are interlaid, but not in an identifiable manner as in a knitted fabric. In an embodiment, the fibrous material is needle punched to entangle the various fibers and provide Z-directional strength. As a result of the needle punching process, at least some fibers may extend substantially in the Z direction of the fabric may be mechanically entangled with each other. In some instances, the entangled fibers are generally wrapped around and/or intertwined with other fibers of the fabric. In addition, the entanglement of fibers enhances the dimensional stability and overall strength of the fabric, while imparting some degree of flexibility to the fabric, so that it may be shaped or molded into any desired shape.
This disclosure, in various embodiments, configurations and aspects, includes components, methods, processes, systems, and/or apparatuses as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, sub-combinations, and subsets thereof. This disclosure contemplates, in various embodiments, configurations and aspects, the actual or optional use or inclusion of, e.g., components or processes as may be well-known or understood in the art and consistent with this disclosure though not depicted and/or described herein.
The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.
In this specification and the claims that follow, reference will be made to a number of terms that have the following meanings. The terms “a” (or “an”) and “the” refer to one or more of that entity, thereby including plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “an embodiment” and the like are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term such as “about” is not to be limited to the precise value specified. In some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Terms such as “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower” etc. are used to identify one element from another, and unless otherwise specified are not meant to refer to a particular order or number of elements.
As used herein, the terms “may” and “may be” indicate a possibility of an occurrence within a set of circumstances; a possession of a specified property, characteristic or function; and/or qualify another verb by expressing one or more of an ability, capability, or possibility associated with the qualified verb. Accordingly, usage of “may” and “may be” indicates that a modified term is apparently appropriate, capable, or suitable for an indicated capacity, function, or usage, while taking into account that in some circumstances the modified term may sometimes not be appropriate, capable, or suitable. For example, in some circumstances an event or capacity can be expected, while in other circumstances the event or capacity cannot occur—this distinction is captured by the terms “may” and “may be.”
As used in the claims, the word “comprises” and its grammatical variants logically also subtend and include phrases of varying and differing extent such as for example, but not limited thereto, “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of.” Where necessary, ranges have been supplied, and those ranges are inclusive of all sub-ranges therebetween. It is to be expected that the appended claims should cover variations in the ranges except where this disclosure makes clear the use of a particular range in certain embodiments.
The terms “determine”, “calculate” and “compute,” and variations thereof, as used herein, are used interchangeably and include any type of methodology, process, mathematical operation or technique.
This disclosure is presented for purposes of illustration and description. This disclosure is not limited to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the Detailed Description of this disclosure, for example, various features of some exemplary embodiments are grouped together to representatively describe those and other contemplated embodiments, configurations, and aspects, to the extent that including in this disclosure a description of every potential embodiment, variant, and combination of features is not feasible. Thus, the features of the disclosed embodiments, configurations, and aspects may be combined in alternate embodiments, configurations, and aspects not expressly discussed above. For example, the features recited in the following claims lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this disclosure.
Advances in science and technology may provide variations that are not necessarily express in the terminology of this disclosure although the claims would not necessarily exclude these variations.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/025,206 filed May 15, 2020 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/015,787 filed Apr. 27, 2020, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63025206 | May 2020 | US | |
| 63015787 | Apr 2020 | US |
