Electromagnetically shielded healthcare services compartment

Abstract

An electromagnetically shielded healthcare services compartment is enclosed by a container having sidewalls, a front wall, and end wall, a roof, and a floor formed of longitudinally extended panels having a traverse cross-section defining opposing skins bridged by webs defining channels extending a length of the panels. The panels are formed of a conductive metal which may be aluminum. The channels are filled with a filler including a material providing thermal insulation and having a high relative magnetic permeability. The compartment is configured to contain healthcare equipment which generates and / or whose operation is adversely affected by electromagnetic fields. The container effectively functions as a shield against electromagnetic and static or slowly-varying magnetic fields. A trailer including the container is useful as a mobile healthcare services platform for providing medical imaging services.

Description

ELECTROMAGNETICALLY SHIELDED HEALTHCARE SERVICES COMPARTMENTFIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to electromagnetically shielded healthcare services compartments, and more particularly to mobile healthcare services platforms containing healthcare equipment providing electromagnetic shielding to the healthcare equipment and to the platform surroundings.BACKGROUND

[0002] Healthcare services are often provided to subjects using healthcare equipment whose proper operation is adversely affected by the presence of electromagnetic fields at or about the location of the healthcare equipment or the subject, or where the healthcare equipment itself generates hazardous or undesirable electromagnetic fields in a space surrounding the healthcare equipment. For example, medical diagnostic equipment is widely used to measure and characterize the conditions of a subject in order to diagnose ailments of the subject. Such medical diagnostic equipment may include without limitation medical imaging equipment, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines and radiography equipment, such as X-ray and projectional radiography, computer tomography, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, fluoroscopy, and angiography machines.

[0003] Very often, such healthcare equipment is located in medical care facilities such as hospitals and clinics, and in particular are stationary installations in such facilities. Subjects requiring services using such healthcare equipment must therefore travel to and present at such facilities personally. As a result, accessibility to healthcare services requiring the use of such healthcare equipment may be limited by the proximity and mobility of subjects to the healthcare equipment location. Consequently, at least some such healthcare equipment may not be maximally utilized, if the noted limitations in accessibility result in fewer than a maximum number of subjects being made available for use with the healthcare equipment, which may result in providing access to a greater quantity of such healthcare equipment uneconomical.

[0004] As such, it is now known to provide such healthcare equipment in a mobile platform which may be moved to different locations from time to time, as needed or desired. For example, it is now known to provide mobile MRI containers including an MRI machinecontained in and carried by the container. In some cases, the platform is a trailer. In this way, the healthcare equipment and associated services may be made accessible to a greater number of subjects, and a greater utilization of the healthcare equipment may be achieved.

[0005] A pair of related problems involved in the provision and use of such mobile healthcare services platforms concerns the interaction between electromagnetic fields generated by the healthcare equipment and the environment surrounding the healthcare equipment, and the interaction between the healthcare equipment and electromagnetic fields in the environment of the healthcare equipment but originating otherwise than from the healthcare equipment itself. The first problem concerns the undesirable effects of the interaction of electromagnetic fields generated by the healthcare equipment and objects in its environment, and in particular interference with the proper operation or condition of such objects. Examples of such objects include persons with pacemakers, and sensitive electronic equipment in the vicinity. The second problem concerns the proper operation of the healthcare equipment itself. The quality of data generated by use of the equipment, such as the quality of images thereby generated, may be adversely affected by the presence of external electromagnetic fields at or about the healthcare equipment or the subject, such as electromagnetic fields generated by sources outside of the trailer, or natural electromagnetic fields, such as the Earth’s magnetic field.

[0006] Accordingly, it is common in the construction of mobile healthcare services platforms to provide electromagnetic shielding of a compartment containing the healthcare equipment and the subject. Common healthcare services compartments typically have a frame, steel sheet metal sidewalls, roof, floor, end wall, and front wall. For the purpose of shielding electromagnetic fields, it is common to apply at or proximal an interior surface of the compartment sheet material formed of a highly conductive metal, such as copper, in order to form a Faraday shield. In order to ensure proper function of the electromagnetic shield, it is typically necessary to apply considerable time and effort to ensure that there are no gaps or spaces in the electromagnetic shield so constructed, which would allow passage of an electromagnetic field into or out of the compartment.

[0007] In addition, inasmuch as such platforms may be used in weather conditions other than room temperature, it is generally necessary to provide thermal insulation surrounding the compartment containing the equipment and subject. For this purpose, it iscommon to apply thermal insulation sheet material in a layered arrangement with the electromagnetic shield sheet material. The inclusion of both thermal insulation and electromagnetic shield sheet materials imposes challenges, however, to the provision of ancillary equipment such as electrical and gas lines required for operation and maintenance of the compartment and equipment, which may also need to pass through a trailer wall and one or both of the thermal insulation and electromagnetic shield sheet materials, thereby further complicating the provision of a seamless Faraday shield. The construction of a typical health services mobile platform is therefore often a complex, lengthy, and costly process.

[0008] There thus remains an ongoing need for improved electromagnetically shielded healthcare services compartments.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures.

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an electromagnetically shielded mobile healthcare services trailer.

[0011] FIG. 2 shows a perspective, cutaway view of the trailer of FIG. 1, where one sidewall is removed to show an interior of the trailer container.

[0012] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2.

[0013] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a longitudinally-extended panel used to construct walls of the container of the trailer of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 5 shows an end view of the panel of FIG. 4 showing an internal structure of the panel.

[0015] FIG. 6 shows an overside perspective view of another embodiment of an electromagnetically shielded mobile healthcare services trailer.

[0016] FIG. 7 shows a perspective, cutaway view of the trailer of FIG. 6, where one sidewall is removed to show an interior of the trailer container.

[0017] FIG. 8 shows a side elevation, cutaway view of the trailer of FIG. 6, where one sidewall is removed to show an interior of the trailer container.

[0018] FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 8.

[0019] FIG. 10 shows a duplicate of the view of FIG. 8 showing certain dimensions of the trailer.

[0020] FIG. 11 shows an underside perspective view of the trailer of FIG. 6.

[0021] FIG. 12 shows an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 11.

[0022] Throughout the drawings, sometimes only one or fewer than all of the instances of an element visible in the view are designated by a lead line and reference character, for the sake only of simplicity and to avoid obfuscation. It will be understood, however, that in such cases, in accordance with the corresponding description, that all other instances are likewise designated and encompassed by the corresponding description.

[0023] In the drawings and this description, the use of a brace (‘{‘ or '}’) between reference characters designates a genus and species relationship, such that “A { B” indicates that ‘B’ is a species of a broader genus ‘A’. A numerical reference character suffixed by a letter (e.g. “800A”, “900B”) designates a separate instance of the element designated by the numerical reference character (e.g. “800A”, “800B” are each separate instances of the element designated by “800”).DESCRIPTION

[0024] An electromagnetically shielded healthcare services compartment as disclosed herein conveniently provides electromagnetic shielding for healthcare equipment used therein while being more quickly and cost effectively constructed than known compartments. The compartment is useful for a mobile healthcare services platform, which may be a mobile healthcare services trailer.

[0025] While the compartment as shown and described herein as forming a part of a mobile healthcare services trailer, it is contemplated that the container may be useful otherwise than as a part of a mobile healthcare services trailer. In particular, it is contemplated that the container may form a part of a mobile healthcare services platform of a different kind, such as, without limitation, a portable building. Moreover, components of the compartment as shown and described herein may be useful for providing an electromagnetically shielded healthcare services compartment in an otherwise than mobile application, such as, without limitation, in a fixed installation, such as in a healthcare services facility such as a hospital or clinic.

[0026] In this disclosure, unless the context requires otherwise, “electromagnetic field” includes: a dynamic electromagnetic field, which may include radio frequency (RF) waves; a static or slowly varying electric field; or, a static or slowly varying magnetic field. In the foregoing, “slowly varying” may indicate a frequency of below about 100 kHz.

[0027] The term “electromagnetic shielding” includes the blocking or attenuation at least in part of an electromagnetic field.

[0028] The term “medical imaging equipment” includes without limitation any equipment useful for medical imaging of a subject, and may include, without limitation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, and radiography equipment such as X-ray, projectional radiography, computer tomography, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, fluoroscopy, and angiography machines.

[0029] The term “healthcare services” includes without limitation medical services, surgical services, medical diagnostic services, or surgical diagnostic services.

[0030] The term “healthcare equipment” includes without limitation any equipment useful in the provision of healthcare services to a subject where electromagnetic shielding of the equipment or subject is necessary or desirable for the provision of the healthcare services to the subject, and further includes medical imaging equipment.

[0031] First Embodiment

[0032] A mobile healthcare services trailer (or simply “trailer”) 100 is shown in FIG’s 1- 3. The trailer 100 has a container 200 mounted on and carried by a wheeled suspension 110. The trailer 100 may have any further equipment as is known and desirable for trailers, such as a truck coupler 130, which may be a kingpin.

[0033] The container 200 has a plurality of walls 210, at least some of which are exterior walls 215 forming and enclosing a compartment 300 sized, shaped, and configured to house healthcare equipment 400 for use to provide healthcare services to a subject. The exterior walls 215 may include a pair of opposing sidewalls 220, a front wall 230, and end wall 240, a floor 250, and a roof 255. The container 200 may have any shape, which may include a rectangular cuboid as is typical of cargo containers. Other shapes are contemplated. The walls 210 may further include interior dividing walls 260 separating the compartment 300 from other rooms 310. The container 200 may further have any such further components or configurations as is necessary or desirable to render the trailer 100 useful for its intendedpurpose, such as one or more doorways 320 and doors (not shown) for providing subjects and healthcare services technicians access to the compartment 300 and healthcare equipment 400 therein.

[0034] At least some of the walls 210 are formed of panels 500 as shown in FIG’s 4-5. Each panel 500 is extended along a longitudinal axis L of the panel 500 and has a cross- sectional profile in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Z. The cross-sectional profile of the panel 500 has an inner skin 510, an outer skin 520, and a plurality of webs 530 bridging the inner skin 510 and the outer skin 520. The inner skin 510, the outer skin 520, and adjacent pairs of the webs 530 form channels 540 therebetween which extend along the longitudinal axis L of the panel 500, which may be along an entire length of the panel 500. The terms “inner” and “outer” in the terms “inner skin 510” and “outer skin 520” may be replaced by terms not signifying relative position when the panel 500 is considered in isolation. For example, such terms may be replaced by “first skin” and “second skin” respectively, or like terms. Inasmuch as the panels 500 are used, as described herein, to construct walls 210 which enclose an interior of the container 200, and in particular the compartment 300, the adjectives “inner” and “outer” may be understood, where the context of usage indicates, to designate respectively relative positions of the “inner skin 510” and “outer skin 520” with respect to the space so enclosed, such than the “inner skin 510” is disposed facing the space enclosed, and “outer skin 520” is disposed opposite the inner skin 510 relative to the space enclosed.

[0035] The panels 500 may have any suitable dimensions including thickness. The following are non-limited examples. In some embodiments, the panels 500 have a thickness tp of between 0.5” and 6” (1.27 cm and 15.24 cm), or between 1” and 4” (2.54 cm and 10.16 cm), or about 1 .5” (3.81 cm). The panels 500 may be of any desired length, which may include a length Zp which extends an entire length of the container 200. All of the panels 500 may have the same length, or first ones of the panels 500 may have a first length different from a second length of second ones of the panels 500. Further combinations are possible. The following are non-limiting examples. In some embodiments, the one or more of the panels 500 has a length of between 20’ and 100’ (6.096 m and 30.48 m), or between 40’ and 80’ (12.192 m and 24.384 m), or between 50’ and 60’ (15.24 m and 18.288 m), or about 56’ (17.0688 m), or about 53’ (16.1544 m). The panels 500 may have any desired width which may include, without limitation,a width wp of about 6” to about 24”, or about 14”, or about 14-1 / 16”. The outer skin 520, the inner skin 510, and the webs 530 may have any respective dimensions. The following are nonlimiting examples. The outer skin 520 may have a thickness tos of at least 1 mm, or from 1 mm to 4 mm, or from 2 mm to 3 mm, or about 2.5 mm. The inner skin 510 may have a thickness tis of at least 2 mm, or from 2 mm to 5 mm, or from 3 mm to 4 mm, or about 3.5 mm. The webs 530 may each have a thickness tw of at least 1 mm, or from 1 mm to 4 mm, or from 2 mm to 3 mm, or about 2.5 mm. The outer skin 520 and the inner skin 510 may be spaced by a gap gs of at least 30 mm, or from 30 mm to 45 mm, or from 35 mm to 40 mm, or about 38 mm. The webs 530 may be provided in any desired number, which may be at least 6, or 6 to 12, or 8 to 10, or about 9. The webs 530 may be spaced by a gap gw of at least 15 mm, or 15 mm to 35 mm, or 20 mm to 30 mm, or about 25 mm. Other configurations are possible.

[0036] Opposing longitudinal edges 550,551 of the panel 500 define complementary coupling structures 554,555 respectively sized, shaped, and configured for precise mating of opposing complementary edges of two like panels 500. For example, the complementary coupling structures 554,555 may be a tongue 558 and a groove 559 respectively sized, shaped, and configured for precise mating of an opposing pair of the tongue 558 and the groove 559. A pair of panels 500 having complementary coupling structures 554,555 mated in this way form a joint 560 extending along the longitudinal axis L of the panels 500. The panels 500 so joined may be affixed together in any suitable manner, which may include welding, which may be along part of or an entire length of the joint 560 so formed, which may include along part of or an entire length of either or both of an interior seam 562 and an exterior seam 564 formed at the joint 560.

[0037] The panels 500 may be formed of any materials operable to provide electromagnetic shielding. In some embodiments, the panels 500 may be formed of metal. In particular, the panels 500 may be formed of conductive metal. In different embodiments, the panels 500 are formed of steel or aluminum. In particular, in some embodiments the metal is aluminum. The panels 500 may be formed by any suitable manufacturing method. In some embodiments, the panels 500 are formed by extrusion, and the cross-sectional profile in the plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L is an extrusion profile.

[0038] As noted above, paired panels 500 may be joined and affixed together in any suitable manner, which may include welding, which may include arc welding, which may include tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding. A wall 210 may be formed of a plurality of panels 500 as described and may, once formed, be a single, continuous, and rigid whole, so as to provide a continuous physical barrier free or substantially free from holes or gaps. In particular, when the wall 210 when formed may provide an electromagnetic shield, and in particular a Faraday shield.

[0039] In some embodiments, at least the sidewalls 220, front wall 230, and end wall 240 are formed of panels 500 as described. In further embodiments, the floor 250 is also formed of panels 500 as described. In yet further embodiments, the exterior walls 215 are all formed of panels 500 as described. In yet further embodiments, at least the walls 210 defining and enclosing the compartment 300 are formed of panels 500 as described, which may be any combination of exterior walls 215 and interior dividing walls 260. In general, any number or combination of the walls 210 may be formed of panels 500 as described herein to provide desired electromagnetic shielding, as described.

[0040] Thus, in any case, at least some, which may be all, of the walls 210, or at least the exterior walls 215, enclosing the compartment 300 may each provide a continuous physical barrier free or substantially free from holes or gaps, and in particular an electromagnetic shield, and in particular a Faraday shield, with the result that the compartment 300 is electromagnetically shielded. As such, the healthcare equipment 400 housed in the compartment 300, and a subject when present for use of the healthcare equipment 400 with the subject, may be electromagnetically shielded from electromagnetic fields originating from without the compartment 300, and the surroundings of the container 200 may be electromagnetically shielded from electromagnetic fields originating from within the compartment 300, including from the healthcare equipment 400. Where the container 200 and / or interior dividing walls 260 are provided with doorways 320 to provide access to the compartment 300, one or more of the doorways 320 may be selectively closed by closely-fitting doors (not shown) which are sized, shaped, and configured, which may be made from selected materials, also to provide electromagnetic shielding to the compartment 300 in combination and cooperation with the portion of the wall 210 surrounding the doorway 320. Such doors may be formed of panels 500 as well.

[0041] As shown and described above, the panels 500 define channels 540 which extend along the longitudinal axis L of the panel 500, which may be along an entire length of the panel 500. The channels 540 may be sized, shaped, and configured to contain or allow passage of any materials, objects, or ancillary equipment as may be necessary or desirable for the operation of the healthcare equipment 400 and the provision of the healthcare services. For example, one or more channels 540 may be used for the passage and containment of electrical or communications cables or wires, or fluid pipes or hoses, which may be coolant or refrigerant pipes or hoses, or ventilation pipes or hoses. Alternatively, the channels 540 may be used as conduits for the direct passage of fluid without addition contained pipes or hoses. In particular, where communication between the channels 540 and an interior of the container 200, such as the compartment 300, is necessary or desirable for the operation of the healthcare equipment 400, or otherwise for the provision of the healthcare services - such as, for example, the passage of electrical or communications cables or wires, or fluid pipes or hoses, which may be coolant or refrigerant pipes or hoses, or ventilation pipes or hoses, between the channels 540 and the interior of the container 200, such as the compartment 300 - thus requiring providing openings in interior surfaces of the walls 210 enclosing the container 200, such as the compartment 300, this may be done by providing such openings only in the particular inner skin 510 of the panel 500 defining the respective channel 540, without requiring any opening in the outer skin 520 also defining that channel 540. In this way, the exterior surface of the wall 210, having an unbroken surface, may continue to provide a continuous physical barrier free or substantially free from holes or gaps, and in particular may provide an electromagnetic shield, in particular a Faraday shield.

[0042] Additionally, or alternatively, the channels 540 may be sized, shaped, and configured to receive and contain a filler 600 comprising material useful for providing a wall 210 formed of the panels 500 with other properties, which may include, without limitation, thermal insulating properties, further electromagnetic shielding properties, or both. In some embodiments, the channels 540 may be filled at least partly, or entirely, with the filler 600. In some embodiments, the filler 600 may include thermal insulation material. In some embodiments, the filler 600 may include electromagnetic shielding material. In some embodiments, the filler 600 may include material that provides both thermal insulation andelectromagnetic shielding. In some embodiments, the filler 600 material provides passive shielding of slowly-varying magnetic fields.

[0043] In particular, in some embodiments, at least some of the channels 540, which may be all of the channels 540, of at least some of the walls 210 defining and enclosing the compartment 300, which may be all of such walls 210, contain filler 600. In some embodiments, the filler 600 includes a mineral wool. The mineral wool may be a glass wool, a stone wool, or a ceramic fibre wool. In particular, the mineral wool may be formed of a material which provides both thermal insulating properties as well as electromagnetic shielding properties. In particular, the mineral wool may be formed at least partly, or entirely, of a material having a high relative magnetic permeability / o, being a relative magnetic permeability / o of greater than 1 , or at least about 1.000022, or at least about 100, or at least about 5000, or at least about 20,000, or at least about 200,000. In particular, the material having a high relative magnetic permeability / o may be aluminum, steel (which may be carbon steel), iron, or mu-metal, or any combination thereof.

[0044] In some embodiments of the trailer 100, all of the exterior walls 215 of the container 200 - that is, all of the opposing sidewalls 220, front wall 230, end wall 240, floor 250, and roof 255 - are formed of panels 500, as described, and the panels 500 are extruded aluminum panels where adjacent pairs of panels 500 are joined in a tongue 558 and groove 559 joint 560, and the interior seam 562 and the exterior seam 564 are both welded. In this way, and inasmuch as aluminum is a conductive metal, the compartment 300 housing the healthcare equipment 400 is entirely contained within a Faraday shield which may effectively shield, at least partly, the healthcare equipment 400 from electromagnetic fields originating from outside of the compartment 400, and the surroundings of the trailer 100, at least partly, from electromagnetic fields originating from the healthcare equipment 400. Moreover, the walls 210 constructed from panels 510 formed from aluminum, as described, may provide at least some passive shielding of static or ay-varying magnetic fields.

[0045] Additionally, in some embodiments, for all of the panels 500, all of the channels 540 are filled with a filler 600 formed on a stone wool having a high relative magnetic permeability / o as described. In this way, and inasmuch as stone wool has a high relative magnetic permeability / o, the compartment 300 housing the healthcare equipment 400 is entirely contained within a magnetic shield which may provide passive shielding, at least partly,of the healthcare equipment 400 from static or slowly-varying magnetic fields originating from outside of the compartment 400, and the surroundings of the trailer 100 from static or slowly- varying magnetic fields originating from the healthcare equipment 400. Moreover, the stone wool as a filler 600 may function as a thermal insulator, and thus the panels 500 with channels 540 filled with a filler 600 which is stone wool may function effectively as thermal insulating panels, such that the exterior walls 215 of the container 200 all provide thermal insulation to the compartment 300 housing the healthcare equipment 400.

[0046] A trailer 100 as described may provide numerous advantages and overcome numerous disadvantages associated with conventional healthcare services compartments, including conventional mobile healthcare services platforms. Inasmuch as the walls 210 as described themselves function as electromagnetic shields, there may be no requirement to install additional materials to the wall surfaces, such as copper sheet metal or foil as is typical with conventional mobile healthcare services platforms. Thus, time, effort, and cost may be saved. Moreover, when the walls 210 are formed from panels 500 with channels 540 filled with a filler 600 which provides thermal insulation, and thus the walls 210 provide thermal insulation, there may be no requirement to install additional materials to the wall surfaces, such as sheet insulation, as is typical with conventional mobile healthcare services platforms. Thus, time, effort, and cost may be saved. Moreover, when the walls 210 are formed from panels 500 with channels 540 filled with a filler 600 which has a high relative magnetic permeability / o, and thus the walls 210 provide magnetic shielding against static or slowly-varying magnetic fields, there may be no requirement to install additional materials to the wall surfaces to achieve this result. Doing so may enable operation of the healthcare equipment 400 with better results when the presence of static or slowly-varying magnetic fields adversely affects the operation of the healthcare equipment 400. Thus, time, effort, and cost are saved, and superior operation of the healthcare equipment 400 may be achieved. Moreover, inasmuch as the walls 210 are formed from panels 500 which have both inner skins 510 and outer skins 520, desired openings may be formed in the inner skins 510 to provide access to the channels 540 for the passage and containment of electrical or communications cables or wires, or fluid pipes or hoses, which may be coolant or refrigerant pipes or hoses, or ventilation pipes or hoses, or the direct passage of fluid without addition contained pipes or hoses, leaving an exterior surface of the wall 210 formed from the outer skins 520, having an unbroken surface which continues toprovide a continuous physical barrier free or substantially free from holes or gaps, and in particular may provide an electromagnetic shield, in particular a Faraday shield. In this way, time, effort, and cost providing such additional ancillary equipment may be saved, as the tolerances required for couplings, fittings, and the like absent the exterior surface can be avoided.

[0047] Second Embodiment

[0048] Another mobile healthcare services trailer (or simply “trailer”) 700 is shown in FIG’s 6-12. The trailer 700 has a container 800 mounted on and carried by a wheeled suspension 710. The trailer 800 may have any further equipment as is known and desirable for trailers, such as a truck coupler 730, which may be a kingpin.

[0049] As with container 200, the container 800 has a plurality of walls 810, at least some of which are exterior walls 815 forming and enclosing a compartment 900 sized, shaped, and configured to house healthcare equipment 1000 for use to provide healthcare services to a subject. The exterior walls 815 may include a pair of opposing sidewalls 820, a front wall 830, and end wall 840, a floor 850, and a roof 855. The container 800 may have any shape, which may include a rectangular cuboid as is typical of cargo containers. Other shapes are contemplated. The walls 810 may further include interior dividing walls 860 separating the compartment 900 from other rooms 910. The container 800 may further have any such further components or configurations as is necessary or desirable to render the trailer 700 useful for its intended purpose, such as one or more doorways 920 and doors (not shown) for providing subjects and healthcare services technicians access to the compartment 900 and healthcare equipment 1000 therein.

[0050] As with container 200, at least some of the walls 810 of container 800 are formed of panels 500 as shown in FIG’s 4-5 and as described above, and the features, properties, options, and advantages described above in connection with the trailer 100, container 200, compartment 300, and healthcare equipment 400 are equally applicable, mutatis mutandis, to the trailer 700, container 800, compartment 900, and healthcare equipment 1000. In particular, all of the features, properties, options, and advantages described above in connection with electromagnetic shielding, and magnetic shielding against static or slowly-varying magnetic fields, are equally applicable to embodiments of trailer 700 and container 800.

[0051] Thus, the trailer 700 may be substantially similar to the trailer 100 described and shown above, with the following differences.

[0052] As shown particularly in FIG’s 1 & 2, the trailer 100 is of the possum belly type. The floor 250 of the trailer 100 extends more-or-less continuously from the front wall 230 to the end wall 240 at a constant elevation entirely or substantially entirely above the wheeled suspension 110, which is shown as a tri-axle suspension, although alternative arrangements are possible and contemplated. In trailer 100, the possum belly forms a storage compartment 120 beneath the floor 250. An exterior main doorway 325 is formed in a sidewall 220 to provide access to patients, healthcare workers, equipment, and materials. In particular, the trailer 100 may have or cooperate with an elevating lift (not shown) to raise patients, which may include wheelchair-bound patients, up from a starting surface to an elevated position level with the floor 250, to facilitate ingress into the other rooms 310 and ultimately the compartment 300 containing the healthcare equipment 400. The use of an elevating lift in this manner may be time-consuming, however, may require additional materials and maintenance of the equipment, may add additional weight to the trailer 100, and may form a projection increasing a transverse width of the trailer 100. The use of such a lift may require as well that the exterior main doorway 325 remain open for the entire ingress procedure, including the process of lifting the patient. In cold or inclement climates, needing to keep the exterior main doorway 325 for an extended time period may impose suboptimal conditions on healthcare workers in the compartment 300 or other rooms 310.

[0053] As shown in FIG’s 6-12, the trailer 700 is also of the possum belly type. In the case of trailer 700, however, the floor 850 does not extend an entire length of the trailer 700 at the same elevation, but instead (as best seen in FIG’s 8 & 10) has at least one lower floor portion 852, and at least one upper floor portion 854 having different elevations above a road or other surface 876 supporting the trailer 700. Where there is more than one lower floor portion 852 or upper floor portion 854, they may have the same or different elevations. In some embodiments, the at least one upper floor portion includes a forward upper floor portion 856 of a frontover 857 of the trailer 700 (or, portion located above the rear wheeled suspension of a truck when coupled for towing), and a rear upper floor portion 858 of a hump 859 of the trailer 700 over the wheeled suspension 710. While an upper elevation of the upper floor portions 854 may be entirely or substantially entirely above the wheeled suspension 710, a lowerelevation of the lower floor portions 852 may be entirely or substantially entirely below an upper end 712 of the wheeled suspension 710. In particular, the floor 850 of the compartment 900 containing the healthcare equipment 1000, and also any other room 910 providing access to the compartment 900, may have the lower floor portions 852. As is made clear by a visual comparison of trailers 100 and 700, the lower floor portions 852 of trailer 700 may be provided at a lower elevation than the floor 500 of trailer 100, and in particular may be provided closer to a road or other surface supporting the trailer 700. In different embodiments, the lower floor portions 852 may have an elevation HL above the road or other surface 876 supporting the trailer 700 of about 8” to about 20”. In different embodiments, the upper floor portions 854 may have an elevation above the road or other surface 876 supporting the trailer 700 of about 35” to about 60”. In particular, the forward upper floor portion 856 may have an elevation hpu above the road or other surface 876 supporting the trailer 700 of about 40” to about 60”, and the rear upper floor portion 858 may have an elevation HRU above the road or other surface 876 supporting the trailer 700 of about 35” to about 50”. In different embodiments, the lower floor portion 852 (or, belly) may have a length £B of at least about 320”, or at least about 300”, or at least about 150”, or about 150” to about 320”, or about 320”. In different embodiments, the container 800 may have a length 1'T of about 40’ to about 53’, or about 51’ to about 53’, or about 53’.

[0054] As such, the main exterior doorway 925 providing access to the other rooms 910 for ingress to the compartment 900 may have a lower elevation relative to the road or other surface as compared to the exterior main doorway 325 of trailer 100. In particular, the lower floor portions 852 and main exterior doorway 925 may have a lower elevation sufficiently low so as to enable ingress of patients and healthcare workers - even when wheelchair-bound or of limited mobility - without the need of an elevating lift or other such mechanism. In particular, the exterior main doorway 925 and lower floor portions 852 may have such a lower elevation that the trailer 700 may be parked alongside a curb, platform, or other similar structure, with the exterior main doorway 925 facing such structure, such that the exterior main doorway 925 and lower floor portions 852 are at a same or substantially similar elevation as such structure. In this way, patients and healthcare workers may ingress and egress the trailer 700 without the need for an elevating lift or other similar mechanism. Such an arrangementmay address, overcome, eliminate, or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of trailers having elevated floors as described above.

[0055] In order to enable such an arrangement, the trailer 700 may have certain structural features which make it suitable specifically for use as a mobile healthcare services trailer, where the healthcare equipment 1000 has restrictive transportation and operational parameters. By way of non-limiting example, where the healthcare equipment 1000 is an MRI machine, the equipment can be of substantial weight (e.g. 3000 kg to 7000 kg), and moreover may be at least somewhat sensitive to vibration. It is preferable, therefore, for a mobile healthcare services trailer transporting an MRI machine to provide sufficient structural strength and damping of vibration during transport. Conventional mobile healthcare services trailers are therefore typically constructed with a full frame including longitudinal I-beams extending substantially an entire length of the trailer, which are supported by the wheeled suspension beneath. The floor is provided atop such I-beams, and is therefore necessarily provided at an elevation substantially entirely above the wheeled suspension, requiring the use of an elevating lift as described above. Given their substantial weight, MRI machines carried by conventional trailers are typically placed directly above the wheeled suspension in order to provide adequate longitudinal load balancing of the trailer. The trailer 700 described and shown herein may have certain structural features which address, circumvent, or otherwise solve for these issues.

[0056] Specifically, as described above the trailer 700, and in particular the sidewalls 820 of the container 800, may be formed of panels 500, where the panels extend along a longitudinal axis of the container 800, and the panels 500 are joined and affixed along abutting longitudinal edges. In some embodiments, the panels 500 are extruded aluminum panels, and adjacent panels are affixed by welds. The sidewalls 820 thus formed constitute a single structural element having a substantial stiffness and rigidity with respect to bending in a plane of the sidewalls 820 under load. As shown best in FIG’s 7, 8 & 11 , the floor 850 may also be formed of panels 500 which extend transversely between the sidewalls 820. The panels 500 of the floor 850 may be likewise joined and affixed, which may be by welds, along abutting longitudinal edges thereof (which extend transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the container 800). The floor 850 thus formed may constitute a single structural element having a substantial stiffness and rigidity with respect to bending in a plane of the floor 850 under load,and also in a vertical plane perpendicular thereto and extending between the sidewalls 820 given the plurality of webs 530 in the panels 500 forming the floor 850. The floor 850 thus constructed may be affixed, which may be by welds, at or proximal lower edges of the sidewalls 820. In other words, the sidewalls 820 and floor 850 thus constructed and affixed together may collectively form a single structural element of sufficient strength, stiffness, and rigidity so as to require no additional frame for support by the wheeled suspension 710, but may yet be of sufficient strength, stiffness, and rigidity to carry healthcare equipment 1000 of considerable weight (such as an MRI machine as discussed above), while providing at least some vibrational damping in view of the unified structure of the container 800. Inasmuch as, as compared to conventional constructions, the trailer 700 may not require I-beams or other supporting structure, it is possible to provide a container 800 having the lower floor portions 852 of compartment 900 and other rooms 910, and the exterior main doorway 925, of lower elevation, with all of the advantages described above.

[0057] As discussed above, MRI machines carried by conventional trailers are typically placed directly above the wheeled suspension in order to provide adequate longitudinal load balancing of the trailer. The inventors have discovered, through structural analysis, that, surprisingly, it is possible to provide trailer 700 where the healthcare equipment 1000, such as an MRI machine, is not provided directly above the wheeled suspension 710, but is instead provided in front of it (in the direction of the front end of the trailer 700), while providing sufficient longitudinal load balancing of the trailer 700. In particular, the wheeled suspension 710 of the trailer 700 may be a dual, or tandem axle configuration, allowing for extension of the lower floor portion 852 further toward the rear end of the container 800 than might be the case with a tri-axle configuration, thereby enabling placement of the healthcare equipment 1000 further toward the rear end of the trailer 700. Doing so may also enable provision of the compartment 900 and other room 910, which may include an anteroom or control room, having a sufficient collective length for convenient ingress and egress of patients and workers, which may include wheelchair-bound or gurney-bound patients, into and out of the compartment 900 and other room 910. The trailer 700 may also be provided with transverse support beams 870 (shown best in FIG’s 9 & 12) which extend between and are affixed to the sidewalls 820 (and optionally also the floor 850), which may be by welding, in a manner which may be similar to the floor 850, so as to form a single structural element with the floor 850. The transverse support beams870 may be formed from any durable, rigid material which may be metal, which may be aluminum, in any suitable shape, format, or configuration, which may include I-beams. The transverse support beams 870 may be provided entirely, substantially, or at least partially beneath a position of a center of mass of the healthcare equipment 1000. The transverse support beams 870 may provide additional stiffness and rigidity to the floor 850 supporting the healthcare equipment 1000, and may provide further vibration damping to the healthcare equipment 1000 at such supporting portion of the floor 850, and to the container 800 more broadly.

[0058] In the case where the healthcare equipment 1000 has a moveable platform 1010, such as the patient platform of an MRI machine, which must move freely forwardly and backwardly along a longitudinal axis of the container 800, the upper portion 854 of the floor 850 and the lower portion 852 of the floor 850 may be relatively spaced vertically such that - that is, the difference of elevation HRU and elevation HL may be such that - the healthcare equipment 1000 when resting on and supported by the lower portion 852 nevertheless has adequate clearance between the platform 1010 and the upper portion 854 for free forward and backward movement of the platform 1010 over the hump 859. As such, the healthcare equipment 1000 may be positioned farther toward the rear end of the container 800, thereby enabling the provision of the compartment 900 and other room 910 with a greater collective length.

[0059] As shown particularly in FIG’s 9 & 12, the container 800 may further have beneath the floor 850 insulation anchor structures 880 which extend partly or entirely between the sidewalls 820, and which are operable to anchor expanding foam or other insulation which may be applied at an underside of the container 800 to provide thermal insulation and / or soundproofing to the container 800. As shown, the insulation anchor structures 880 may include T-beams which may be formed of any suitable durable, rigid material (which may be metal, which may be aluminum), which extend transversely partly or entirely between the sidewalls 820, and which may be either affixed to the panels 500 forming the floor 850 or may be integral therewith and constitute a part of the extrusion profile of such panels 500.

[0060] In addition, the wheeled suspension 710 of the trailer 700 may include or cooperate with one or more lifting devices, which may be hydraulic, electric, or otherwise, operable to selectively raise and lower the container 800, which may be for the purpose ofconfiguring the trailer 700 in different modes, which may include a transport mode for transporting the trailer 700 along a road to a destination, and a stationary mode for use of the trailer 700 for its intended purpose. In particular, the lifting device may be operable to lower the container 800 a preconfigured amount from the transport mode to the stationary mode, and in this way provide the lower floor portions 852 and main exterior doorway 925 with an even lower elevation to enable ingress of patients and healthcare workers without the need of an elevating lift or other such mechanism. By the use of such a lifting device, the lower floor portion 852 elevation HL, the upper floor portions elevation, the forward upper floor portion 856 elevation hpu, and / or the rear upper floor portion 858 elevation HRU may be selectively decreased and increased - that is, the container 800 may be selectively lowered and raised - by between about 0.5” to about 6.5”, or about 2” to about 3”, or about 3.5”. In particular, in some embodiments, the lower floor portion 852 elevation hp may be about 14.25” in the stationary mode, and about 17.75” in the transport mode. Similarly, in some embodiments, the forward upper floor portion 856 elevation hpu may be about 49.625” in the stationary mode, and about 50.125” in the transport mode. Similarly, in some embodiments, the rear upper floor portion 858 elevation HRU may be about 41 .563” in the stationary mode, and about 45.063” in the transport mode.

[0061] Advantages and Benefits

[0062] A mobile healthcare services trailer, container, and compartment as described herein may provide numerous advantages and benefits over what is available from conventional trailers, containers, and compartments. Since at least the compartment walls are formed from the panels as described, which provide electromagnetic shielding to the compartment, it may be possible to dispense with any additional components to provide electromagnetic shielding, thereby providing a savings in time, materials, cost, and weight. The panel channels may be used to contain electrical wiring or fluid conduits thereby avoiding the need to provide separate conduits and associated junctions for support of the healthcare equipment. The channels may also be filled with filler which may function to provide thermal insulation, additional electromagnetic shielding, or shielding of static or slowly-varying magnetic fields. When the compartment and other room are provided in the belly of the possum belly container, the lower floor portion may be sufficiently low such that the main exteriordoorway permits ingress and egress by workers and patients, which may include even wheelchair- or gurney-bound patients, which the need of an elevating lift. The trailer, container, and compartment may be of simpler construction than conventional alternatives, which may enable the construction of provision thereof less expensively, and more economically, thereby enabling a greater and more widespread provision of needed medical healthcare services.

[0063] Example Embodiments

[0064] The following are non-limiting example embodiments of the subject-matter disclosure herein.

[0065] Embodiment 1. An electromagnetically shielded healthcare services compartment comprising: a plurality of longitudinally extended panels each comprising a cross- sectional profile in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the panel, the cross-sectional profile comprising an inner skin, an outer skin, and a plurality of webs bridging the inner skin and the outer skin, wherein the panels are formed of a conductive material providing electromagnetic shielding; and a compartment roof, a compartment floor, and compartment walls enclosing the compartment, each compartment wall being formed from a plurality of the panels joined at abutting longitudinal edges to form a joint.

[0066] Embodiment 2. The compartment of Embodiment 1 , wherein the conductive material is metal.

[0067] Embodiment 3. The compartment of Embodiment 2, wherein the metal is aluminum.

[0068] Embodiment 4. The compartment of any one of Embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the outer skin and the inner skin each have a thickness of at least 1 mm.

[0069] Embodiment 5. The compartment of Embodiment 4, wherein the thickness is from 1 mm to 4 mm.

[0070] Embodiment 6. The compartment of Embodiment 4, wherein the thickness is from 2 mm to 3 mm.

[0071] Embodiment 7. The compartment of any one of Embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the abutting longitudinal edges are joined by welds.

[0072] Embodiment 8. The compartment of Embodiment 7, where the welds are formed along an entire length of the joints.

[0073] Embodiment 9. The compartment of any one of Embodiments 1 to 8, wherein for each of the panels, the inner skin, the outer skin, and adjacent pairs of the webs form corresponding channels extending along the longitudinal axis of the panel, wherein the channels contain a filler providing thermal insulation and / or additional electromagnetic shielding.

[0074] Embodiment 10. The compartment of Embodiment 9, wherein the filler comprises a mineral wool.

[0075] Embodiment 11. The compartment of Embodiment 10, wherein the filler is formed of a filler material having a relative magnetic permeability of greater than 1.

[0076] Embodiment 12. The compartment of Embodiment 11, wherein the relative magnetic permeability is at least about 1.000022.

[0077] Embodiment 13. The compartment of Embodiment 11, wherein the relative magnetic permeability is at least about 100.

[0078] Embodiment 14. The compartment of Embodiment 11, wherein the relative magnetic permeability is at least about 5000.

[0079] Embodiment 15. The compartment of Embodiment 11, wherein the relative magnetic permeability is at least about 20,000.

[0080] Embodiment 16. The compartment of Embodiment 11, wherein the relative magnetic permeability is at least about 200,000.

[0081] Embodiment 17. The compartment of Embodiment 10, wherein the filler material is aluminum.

[0082] Embodiment 18. The compartment of Embodiment 10, wherein the filler material is steel.

[0083] Embodiment 19. The compartment of Embodiment 10, wherein the filler material is iron.

[0084] Embodiment 20. The compartment of Embodiment 10, wherein the filler material is mu-metal.

[0085] Embodiment 21. The compartment of any one of Embodiments 9 to 20, wherein the filler provides shielding of static magnetic fields or alternating magnetic fields having a frequency of less than about 100 kHz.

[0086] Embodiment 22. The compartment of any one of Embodiments 1 to 21 , wherein the compartment floor is formed from a plurality of the panels.

[0087] Embodiment 23. The compartment of Embodiment 22, wherein the compartment roof is formed from a plurality of the panels.

[0088] Embodiment 24. The compartment of any one of Embodiments 1 to 23, further comprising a doorway formed in one of the compartment walls, wherein the doorway is selectively closeable by a door formed from a plurality of the panels.

[0089] Embodiment 25. An electromagnetically shielded healthcare services container comprising the compartment of any one of Embodiments 1 to 24, wherein the container comprises exterior walls enclosing the container and at least one interior wall dividing the container into rooms, wherein the compartment walls comprise at least a part of the exterior walls, and the exterior walls comprise sidewalls of the container.

[0090] Embodiment 26. The container of Embodiment 25, wherein the compartment walls comprise at least one of the at least one interior wall.

[0091] Embodiment 27. An electromagnetically shielded portable healthcare services building, comprising the compartment of any one of Embodiments 1 to 24 or the container of Embodiment 25 or 26.

[0092] Embodiment 28. An electromagnetically shielded healthcare services trailer comprising the container of Embodiment 25 or 26 mounted on and carried by a wheeled suspension proximal a rear end of the trailer, and further comprising a truck coupler proximal a front end of the trailer.

[0093] Embodiment 29. The trailer of Embodiment 28, wherein: the container comprises a container floor having a lower floor portion located forward of the wheeled suspension and lower than an upper end of the wheeled suspension; and the compartment floor comprises, constitutes at least a part of, or is co-located at least in part with the lower floor portion.

[0094] Embodiment 30. The trailer of Embodiment 29, wherein: the lower floor portion has a lower floor elevation of from about 8” to about 20”.

[0095] Embodiment 31. The trailer of Embodiment 30, wherein: the lower floor elevation is about 17”.

[0096] Embodiment 32. The trailer of any one of Embodiments 29 to 31 , wherein the wheeled suspension is a dual axle suspension.

[0097] Embodiment 33. The trailer of any one of Embodiments 29 to 32, wherein: the container floor further has a rear upper floor portion located over the wheeled suspension; the rear upper floor portion has a rear upper floor portion elevation of from about 35” to about 50”.

[0098] Embodiment 34. The trailer of Embodiment 33, wherein: the rear upper floor portion elevation is about 45”.

[0099] Embodiment 35. The trailer of any one of Embodiments 29 to 34, wherein: the container floor further has a forward upper floor portion located at or over a frontover of the trailer; and the forward upper floor portion has a forward upper floor portion elevation of from about 40” to about 60”.

[0100] Embodiment 36. The trailer of any one of Embodiments 29 to 35, further comprising a set of transverse support beams located at an underside of, or as part of, the compartment floor.

[0101] Embodiment 37. The trailer of Embodiment 36, wherein the set of transverse support beams provide stiffness and rigidity to the compartment floor at least proximal the set of transverse support beams.

[0102] Embodiment 38. The trailer of Embodiment 36 or 37, wherein the set of transverse support beams bridge the sidewalls of the container.

[0103] Embodiment 39. The trailer of any one of Embodiments 36 to 38, further comprising healthcare equipment contained in the compartment and supported by the compartment floor proximal the transverse support beams.

[0104] Embodiment 40. The trailer of any one of Embodiments 28 to 35, further comprising healthcare equipment contained in the compartment.

[0105] Embodiment 41. The trailer of Embodiment 39 or 40, wherein the healthcare equipment comprises a medical diagnostic machine.

[0106] Embodiment 42. The trailer of Embodiment 41 , wherein the medical diagnostic machine comprises a magnetic resonance imaging machine, an X-ray machine, a projectional radiography machine, a computer tomography machine, a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry machine, a fluoroscopy machine, or an angiography machine.

[0107] Embodiment 43. The trailer of Embodiment 41 , wherein the medical diagnostic machine comprises a magnetic resonance imaging machine.

[0108] Embodiment 44. The trailer of any one of Embodiments 28 to 43, further comprising insulation anchor structures located at an underside of the container floor.

[0109] Embodiment 45. The trailer of Embodiment 44, wherein the insulation anchor structures comprise T-beams extend transversely at least partly between the sidewalls.

[0110] Interpretation

[0111] So that the present disclosure may be more readily understood, certain terms are defined. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which embodiments of the invention pertain. While many methods and materials similar, modified, or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the embodiments of the present invention without undue experimentation, the preferred materials and methods are described herein.

[0112] All terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting in any manner or scope. For example, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" can include plural referents unless the content clearly indicates otherwise.

[0113] Numeric ranges recited within the specification are inclusive of the numbers defining the range and include each integer within the defined range. Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of this invention are presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible sub-ranges, fractions, and individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed sub-ranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6, etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and decimals and fractions, for example, 1.2, 3.8, 11 , and 4%. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

[0114] The terms “about” or “approximately” as used herein refer to variation in the numerical quantity that can occur, for example, through typical measuring techniques and equipment, with respect to any quantifiable variable, including, but not limited to, mass, volume, time, distance, voltage, and current. Further, given solid and liquid handling procedures used in the real world, there is certain inadvertent error and variation that is likely through differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of the ingredients used to make the compositions or carry out the methods and the like. The terms “about” and “approximately” also encompass these variations. Expressions which combine the terms “about” or “approximately” with one or more bounds of a range refer to a union of the bound modified by the term “about” or “approximately” as described above, and the range having the unmodified bound. Thus, for example, the expression “at least about X” means the union of “at least X” and “about X”. Similarly, “at most about Y” means the union of “at most Y” and “about Y”.

[0115] The phrase "and / or," as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean "either or both" of the elements so conjoined, i.e. , elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with "and / or" should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., "one or more" of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the "and / or" clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to "A and / or B", when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as "comprising" can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

[0116] As used herein in the specification and in the claims, "or" should be understood to have the same meaning as "and / or" as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, "or" or "and / or" shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as "only one of” or "exactly one of", or when used in the claims, "consisting of" will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term "or" as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. "one or the other but not both") whenpreceded by terms of exclusivity, such as "either", "one of", "only one of", or "exactly one of". "Consisting essentially of", when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

[0117] Embodiments of the disclosed subject-matter are described herein using the auxiliary verb “may”. When used herein, unless required otherwise by the context of usage, the auxiliary verb “may” designates an embodiment of the disclosed subject-matter which possesses the addressed object without requiring necessarily that any other embodiment of the disclosed subject-matter possesses the addressed object. Thus, a statement such as “X may include Y” indicates that the disclosed subject-matter includes embodiments where X includes Y, without requiring that all disclosed embodiments include Y, and without excluding any other embodiments which do not include Y.

[0118] While the disclosed subject-matter may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments. The present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the disclosed subject-matter and is not intended to limit the disclosed subject-matter to the particular embodiments illustrated. Furthermore, the disclosed subject-matter encompasses any possible combination of some or all of the various embodiments mentioned herein. In addition the disclosed subject-matter encompasses any possible combination that also specifically excludes any one or some of the various embodiments mentioned herein.

[0119] In the preceding description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required. In particular, it will be appreciated that the various additional features shown in the drawings are generally optional unless specifically identified herein as required. The above-described embodiments are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations can be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the particular embodiments set forth herein, but should be construed in a manner consistent with the specification as a whole.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An electromagnetically shielded healthcare services compartment comprising: a plurality of longitudinally extended panels each comprising a cross-sectional profile in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the panel, the cross-sectional profile comprising an inner skin, an outer skin, and a plurality of webs bridging the inner skin and the outer skin, wherein the panels are formed of a conductive material providing electromagnetic shielding; and a compartment roof, a compartment floor, and compartment walls enclosing the compartment, each compartment wall being formed from a plurality of the panels joined at abutting longitudinal edges to form a joint.

2. The compartment of claim 1 , wherein the conductive material is metal.

3. The compartment of claim 2, wherein the metal is aluminum.

4. The compartment of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer skin and the inner skin each have a thickness of at least 1 mm.

5. The compartment of claim 4, wherein the thickness is from 1 mm to 4 mm.

6. The compartment of claim 4, wherein the thickness is from 2 mm to 3 mm.

7. The compartment of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the abutting longitudinal edges are joined by welds.

8. The compartment of claim 7, where the welds are formed along an entire length of the joints.

9. The compartment of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein for each of the panels, the inner skin, the outer skin, and adjacent pairs of the webs form corresponding channels extendingalong the longitudinal axis of the panel, wherein the channels contain a filler providing thermal insulation and / or additional electromagnetic shielding.

10. The compartment of claim 9, wherein the filler comprises a mineral wool.

11. The compartment of claim 10, wherein the filler is formed of a filler material having a relative magnetic permeability of greater than 1.

12. The compartment of claim 11 , wherein the relative magnetic permeability is at least about 1.000022.

13. The compartment of claim 11 , wherein the relative magnetic permeability is at least about 100.

14. The compartment of claim 11 , wherein the relative magnetic permeability is at least about 5000.

15. The compartment of claim 11 , wherein the relative magnetic permeability is at least about 20,000.

16. The compartment of claim 11 , wherein the relative magnetic permeability is at least about 200,000.

17. The compartment of claim 10, wherein the filler material is aluminum.

18. The compartment of claim 10, wherein the filler material is steel.

19. The compartment of claim 10, wherein the filler material is iron.

20. The compartment of claim 10, wherein the filler material is mu-metal.21 . The compartment of any one of claims 9 to 20, wherein the filler provides shielding of static magnetic fields or alternating magnetic fields having a frequency of less than about 100 kHz.

22. The compartment of any one of claims 1 to 21 , wherein the compartment floor is formed from a plurality of the panels.

23. The compartment of claim 22, wherein the compartment roof is formed from a plurality of the panels.

24. The compartment of any one of claims 1 to 23, further comprising a doorway formed in one of the compartment walls, wherein the doorway is selectively closeable by a door formed from a plurality of the panels.

25. An electromagnetically shielded healthcare services container comprising the compartment of any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the container comprises exterior walls enclosing the container and at least one interior wall dividing the container into rooms, wherein the compartment walls comprise at least a part of the exterior walls, and the exterior walls comprise sidewalls of the container.

26. The container of claim 25, wherein the compartment walls comprise at least one of the at least one interior wall.

27. An electromagnetically shielded portable healthcare services building, comprising the compartment of any one of claims 1 to 24 or the container of claim 25 or 26.

28. An electromagnetically shielded healthcare services trailer comprising the container of claim 25 or 26 mounted on and carried by a wheeled suspension proximal a rear end of the trailer, and further comprising a truck coupler proximal a front end of the trailer.

29. The trailer of claim 28, wherein:the container comprises a container floor having a lower floor portion located forward of the wheeled suspension and lower than an upper end of the wheeled suspension; and the compartment floor comprises, constitutes at least a part of, or is co-located at least in part with the lower floor portion.

30. The trailer of claim 29, wherein: the lower floor portion has a lower floor elevation of from about 8” to about 20”.31 . The trailer of claim 30, wherein: the lower floor elevation is about 17”.

32. The trailer of any one of claims 29 to 31 , wherein the wheeled suspension is a dual axle suspension.

33. The trailer of any one of claims 29 to 32, wherein: the container floor further has a rear upper floor portion located over the wheeled suspension; the rear upper floor portion has a rear upper floor portion elevation of from about 35” to about 50”.

34. The trailer of claim 33, wherein: the rear upper floor portion elevation is about 45”.

35. The trailer of any one of claims 29 to 34, wherein: the container floor further has a forward upper floor portion located at or over a frontover of the trailer; and the forward upper floor portion has a forward upper floor portion elevation of from about 40” to about 60”.

36. The trailer of any one of claims 29 to 35, further comprising a set of transverse support beams located at an underside of, or as part of, the compartment floor.

37. The trailer of claim 36, wherein the set of transverse support beams provide stiffness and rigidity to the compartment floor at least proximal the set of transverse support beams.

38. The trailer of claim 36 or 37, wherein the set of transverse support beams bridge the sidewalls of the container.

39. The trailer of any one of claims 36 to 38, further comprising healthcare equipment contained in the compartment and supported by the compartment floor proximal the transverse support beams.

40. The trailer of any one of claims 28 to 35, further comprising healthcare equipment contained in the compartment.

41. The trailer of claim 39 or 40, wherein the healthcare equipment comprises a medical diagnostic machine.

42. The trailer of claim 41 , wherein the medical diagnostic machine comprises a magnetic resonance imaging machine, an X-ray machine, a projectional radiography machine, a computer tomography machine, a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry machine, a fluoroscopy machine, or an angiography machine.

43. The trailer of claim 41 , wherein the medical diagnostic machine comprises a magnetic resonance imaging machine.

44. The trailer of any one of claims 28 to 43, further comprising insulation anchor structures located at an underside of the container floor.

45. The trailer of claim 44, wherein the insulation anchor structures comprise T-beams extend transversely at least partly between the sidewalls.

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