Volatile substance removal device

Abstract

To prevent hinderance to medical actions to a child patient in a closed type incubator.SOLUTION: An ethanol removal device (110) includes: a suction part (115) which is installed in a closed type incubator (1) and sucks air in an incubator (1) from a suction part (111c); a first removal part (114) for removing ethanol contained in the air; an exhaust part (111d) for exhausting air from which the ethanol has been removed by the first removal part (114); and a guide part (112) for guiding air to the suction part (111c).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0005] ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a volatile substance removal device for removing vaporized volatile substances in medical interventions.

Background Art

[0002] In an incubator, medical treatment is performed on the contained patient. For example, when performing a medical treatment on a patient in an incubator, volatile substances can be used as alcohols used for purposes such as disinfection and disinfection of the fingers of medical treatment implementers, or as solvents for drugs. For example, alcohols used for disinfection and the like include ethanol and isopropanol. When such volatile substances are used in an incubator and vaporize, there is a risk that the patient in the incubator will be exposed to the volatile substances for a long time. For example, ethanol and isopropanol may have an adverse effect on the body and growth of the patient. Therefore, when ethanol is used in a medical treatment for a patient in an incubator, it is necessary to suppress an increase in the concentration of volatile substances in the air in the incubator.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] However, simply removing volatile substances in the space where the incubator is installed, such as in a hospital room or a ward, is insufficient to remove the volatile substances floating near the patient in the incubator.

[0004] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a volatile substance removal device that can sufficiently remove volatile substances such as volatile substances floating near a patient in an incubator.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above problems, a volatile substance removal device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a volatile substance removal device for removing volatile substances generated in a medical intervention in an incubator, comprising: a suction unit for drawing in air from an intake unit; a removal unit for removing a target volatile substance contained in the air; an exhaust unit for exhausting the air from which the volatile substance has been removed by the removal unit; and a guide unit for guiding the air to the intake unit, wherein the guide unit is formed to have a mounting unit on which at least a part of the treatment target of the treatment using the volatile substance and at least one of the sources of the volatile substance can be placed, or is formed to guide the air containing the volatile substance to the intake unit from a direction not perpendicular to the mounting surface on which the source of the volatile substance is placed.

[0006] According to the above configuration, the guide section has a mounting section on which at least a portion of the object to be treated (e.g., the hands and feet of a child) in a procedure using a volatile substance (e.g., ethanol) can be placed. This allows the guide section to guide air containing volatile substances generated when the object to be treated is treated on the mounting section to the intake section. Furthermore, the guide section can actively guide air containing volatile substances floating near the source of the volatile substance used in the procedure, which is placed on the mounting section, to the intake section. This makes it possible to remove volatile substances from the air in a short time. Additionally, the guide section is formed to guide air containing volatile substances to the intake section from a direction not perpendicular to the mounting surface on which the source of the volatile substance (e.g., alcohol swabs) is placed. This allows the guide section to guide air containing volatile substances emitted by the source placed on the mounting surface to the intake section. Therefore, the guide section can actively guide air containing volatile substances floating on the mounting surface on which the source of the volatile substance is placed to the removal section via the intake section. This makes it possible to remove volatile substances from the air in a short time. Furthermore, since the direction in which air containing volatile substances is drawn in by the intake section is not perpendicular to the mounting surface on which the source of volatile substances is placed (e.g., horizontal, diagonal), the guide section is less likely to obstruct the placement of the source on the mounting surface from above.

[0007] If the guide portion is formed to have a mounting portion on which at least a portion of the object to be treated using the volatile substance and at least one of the sources of the volatile substance can be placed, the guide portion may have at least one wall portion rising upward from the periphery of the mounting portion. By having a wall portion that surrounds a predetermined range of the mounting surface on which the source is placed, the volatile substance emitted from at least a portion of the object to be treated and at least one of the sources of the volatile substance placed on the mounting portion can be prevented from diffusing outside the guide portion by the wall. This makes it possible to more actively guide air containing the volatile substance into the intake.

[0008] The aforementioned wall portion may be formed excluding the portion facing the intake portion. By forming the wall portion excluding the portion facing the intake portion, it is possible to perform treatment using volatile substances on the object to be treated placed on the mounting portion from the area where the wall is not formed. Furthermore, it is possible to avoid obstructing the guidance of volatile substances to the intake portion. As a result, treatment using volatile substances on the object to be treated can be performed without being obstructed by the wall, making it easier to perform treatment on the object to be treated and allowing for the removal of volatile substances.

[0009] If the guide portion is formed to guide the air containing the volatile substance to the intake portion from a direction not perpendicular to the mounting surface on which the source emitting the volatile substance is placed, At least a portion of the guide portion may be in contact with the mounting surface on which the source emitting the volatile substance is placed. By having at least a portion of the guide portion that guides air containing the volatile substance to the intake section in contact with the mounting surface on which the source emitting the volatile substance (such as an alcohol swab) is placed, air containing the volatile substance emitted by the source placed on the aforementioned mounting surface can be guided to the intake section more effectively.

[0010] The guide portion may have at least one wall portion that surrounds a predetermined area of ​​the mounting surface on which the source is placed. By having at least one wall portion that surrounds a predetermined area of ​​the mounting surface on which the source is placed, volatile substances emitted from the source placed on the mounting surface can be prevented from diffusing outside the guide portion by the wall. This makes it possible to more actively guide air containing volatile substances into the intake portion.

[0011] The wall portion may be formed excluding the portion facing the intake portion. By forming the wall portion excluding a portion of a predetermined range of the mounting portion (the portion facing the intake portion), the source can be placed on the mounting surface from the area where the wall is not formed. As a result, the process of placing the source on the mounting surface is not obstructed by the wall, making it easier to repeat the process of placing the source on the mounting surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a volatile substance removal device can be provided that can sufficiently remove volatile substances such as ethanol floating around a child in an incubator. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view of an incubator equipped with an ethanol removal device according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of the ethanol removal device shown. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ethanol removal apparatus shown by line AA. [Figure 4] This is a schematic plan view of the ethanol removal device according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] This is a schematic plan view of the ethanol removal device according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ethanol removal apparatus shown by line AA. [Figure 7] Figure 5 illustrates an example of how to use the ethanol removal device shown. [Figure 8]It is a schematic perspective view of a modified example of the incubator shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 9] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of a modified example of the ethanol removal device shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 10] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of a modified example of the ethanol removal device shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 11] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of a modified example of the ethanol removal device shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 12] It is a flowchart for explaining the ethanol removal method according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] 〔Embodiment 1〕 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. Hereinafter, the incubator will be described by taking the closed-type incubator described later as an example.

[0015] Some medical interventions (such as intravenous drip administration) for the patient are carried out inside the incubator. In addition, it is necessary to adsorb and remove volatile substances contained in the air inside the incubator. This volatile substance is a substance used in medical interventions for the patient X such as ethanol.

[0016] Therefore, a volatile substance removal device for removing the volatile substances used in the medical interventions carried out inside the incubator from the air inside the incubator is installed inside the incubator. Thereby, the safety of performing medical interventions for the patient inside the incubator can be improved. As an example of the reason for installing the volatile substance removal device inside the incubator, it can be mentioned that problems are unlikely to occur in terms of hygiene and function. For example, when all or part of the volatile substance removal device is installed outside the incubator, condensation may occur due to the temperature and humidity difference between the inside and outside of the incubator, and problems are likely to occur in terms of hygiene and function. For this reason, it is preferable to install the volatile substance removal device inside the incubator. Hereinafter, in order to explain ethanol as an example of the volatile substance to be removed, the volatile substance removal device will be referred to as an ethanol removal device. First, the outline of the incubator will be described.

[0017] <Overview of the incubator> FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an incubator 1. The incubator 1 includes an accommodation chamber 101 for accommodating an infant X and a mounting table 102 on which the accommodation chamber 101 is placed. Inside the accommodation chamber 101, a bed 11 and partition walls 12 arranged in front of and behind the bed are arranged. The bed 11 is installed on a bed stage 13 provided on the mounting table 102. The bed stage 13 can move the bed 11 in the vertical direction or in the vertical and horizontal directions. The partition wall 12 is formed of a transparent resin having a predetermined height and a predetermined width from the surface 11a of the bed 11.

[0018] The accommodation chamber 101 is provided with two treatment openings 101a for a doctor or a nurse to perform treatments such as intravenous drip administration on the infant X. When performing any treatment on the infant X in the accommodation chamber 101, it is necessary to disinfect. For example, the treatment target site such as the hand of the infant X is disinfected using an alcohol swab. If an alcohol swab is used in the accommodation chamber 101, ethanol is generated in the accommodation chamber 101. In order to remove the generated ethanol, an ethanol removal device 110 is arranged on the bed 11 in the accommodation chamber 101.

[0019] Here, the air in the accommodation chamber 101 includes first air at a position away from the ethanol-emitting source (for example, an alcohol swab) and second air near the ethanol-emitting source (for example, an alcohol swab). Therefore, the ethanol removal device 110 mainly removes ethanol from the second air near the ethanol-emitting source. The drive control of the ethanol removal device 110 is performed by operating an operation unit (not shown) provided on the device.

[0020] Incubator 1 is an incubator (a so-called closed-type incubator) equipped with a containment chamber in which the internal temperature and humidity can be adjusted for housing a sick child. Therefore, incubator 1 further includes a circulation unit 410, a supply unit 420, and a discharge unit 430. The circulation unit 410 circulates temperature and humidity-adjusted air into the containment chamber 101. The supply unit 420 supplies air from outside the containment chamber 101 into the containment chamber 101. The discharge unit 430 discharges at least a portion of the air inside the containment chamber 101 to the outside of the containment chamber 101. As a result, incubator 1 maintains the temperature and humidity in the containment chamber housing the sick child, and is ventilated by natural intake and exhaust at a level that maintains the temperature and humidity. In addition to temperature and humidity, oxygen concentration may also be adjustable in incubator 1. The airflow of the air supplied by the circulation unit is designed with consideration for its direction and speed so as not to affect the sick child.

[0021] The mounting base 102 is equipped with an operation panel 102a that allows the user (doctor, nurse, etc.) to operate the functions of the incubator 1.

[0022] In the incubator 1, the temperature and humidity of the air in the containment chamber 101 are regulated by the circulation unit 410. The ethanol removal device 110 draws in air from the containment chamber 101, removes the ethanol contained in the drawn air, and exhausts the ethanol-free air back into the containment chamber 101. This allows for the removal of ethanol from the containment chamber 101 while maintaining its temperature and humidity. Another possible method is to remove ethanol from the air outside the incubator 1 and exchange the air inside the incubator 1 with the air outside the incubator 1, but this method makes it difficult to maintain the temperature and humidity inside the incubator 1.

[0023] Furthermore, by placing the ethanol removal device 110 inside the containment chamber 101, there is no need to secure a separate space for the ethanol removal device 110 in addition to the space for installing the incubator 1.

[0024] Furthermore, the ethanol removal device 110 can be freely positioned and used on the bed 11. Therefore, when disinfecting patient X, by placing the ethanol removal device 110 close to the area to be disinfected, it is possible to effectively adsorb the ethanol generated during disinfection.

[0025] <Overview of Ethanol Removal Device> Figure 2 is a schematic front view of the ethanol removal device 110. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 2.

[0026] As shown in Figure 2, the ethanol removal device 110 includes a housing 111. On the front surface 111a of the housing 111, intake sections 111c for taking in air are provided in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the front surface 111a, and on the rear surface 111b, an exhaust section 111d (Figure 3) for exhausting the air from which ethanol has been removed within the housing 111 is provided. On the front surface 111a of the housing 111, a guide section 112 is provided to guide air to the intake sections 111c.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, the first removal section 114 and the suction section 115 are arranged in order from the intake section 111c to the exhaust section 111d inside the housing 111.

[0028] The first removal unit 114 contains crushed activated carbon 114a and adsorbs vaporized ethanol contained in the air drawn in from the first opening 114b on the intake unit 111c side by the suction unit 115, and exhausts it from the second opening 114c on the suction unit 115 side. The first removal unit 114 is a cartridge type in which the crushed activated carbon 114a is housed in a cartridge that can be attached and detached from the upper side of the housing 111. This makes it easy to replace the first removal unit 114. Also, the crushed activated carbon 114a is disposable. Therefore, the first removal unit 114 is replaced as follows: The crushed activated carbon 114a housed in the first removal unit 114 removed from the housing 111 is discarded, new crushed activated carbon 114a is housed in the first removal unit 114, and the first removal unit 114 is reattached to the housing 111.

[0029] A gas sensor 117 is provided between the first removal unit 114 and the suction unit 115. This gas sensor 117 is a sensor for detecting a decrease in the ethanol adsorption capacity of the first removal unit 114. Specifically, the control unit (not shown) of the ethanol removal device 110 determines that the ethanol adsorption capacity of the first removal unit 114 has decreased below a predetermined standard if the ethanol concentration detected by the gas sensor 117 is equal to or greater than a preset value (a value used to determine that the first removal unit 114 needs to be replaced). In other words, the control unit can indicate that it is time to replace the first removal unit 114 based on the ethanol concentration detected by the gas sensor 117. In this way, the control unit determines the adsorption state of the first removal unit 114 (whether it is in a breakthrough state (adsorbing beyond the adsorption function and leaking the adsorbed material) or a state where it is adsorbing sufficiently) based on the ethanol concentration detected by the gas sensor 117. Therefore, the gas sensor 117 functions as a breakthrough sensor. In other words, the gas sensor 117 is a sensor that detects a decrease in the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon in the first removal unit 114, and based on the detection result of the gas sensor 117, it is configured to indicate when it is time to replace the activated carbon in the first removal unit 114.

[0030] The suction unit 115 consists of two sirocco fans, which draw air in from the intake unit 111c via the first removal unit 114 and exhaust it from the exhaust unit 111d provided on the rear surface 111b of the housing 111. Here, the intake volume in the suction unit 115 is 20 L or more per minute, but is not limited to this. However, it is preferable that the intake volume in the suction unit 115 be set within a range that does not disturb the environment inside the closed incubator by the intake volume and exhaust volume.

[0031] The direction in which air is exhausted by the exhaust unit 111d is preferably such that it does not obstruct the airflow inside the incubator 1. Furthermore, it is preferable that the air exhausted from the exhaust unit 111d (air from which ethanol has been removed) does not come into contact with the body of the infant X in the containment chamber 101. This is because if the air exhausted from the exhaust unit 111d comes into contact with the infant X, it may draw heat away from the infant or promote water loss due to insensible perspiration. Therefore, the ethanol removal device 110 is configured so that the air exhausted from the exhaust unit 111d is discharged in a direction away from the infant X in the containment chamber 101.

[0032] The air drawn in from the intake section 111c of the housing 111 is guided by the guide section 112 described above. The details of the guide section 112 will now be explained. The guide section 112 includes a mounting section 112a on which at least a portion of the patient X who is the target of the ethanol treatment, and at least one of the ethanol sources such as alcohol swabs can be placed.

[0033] If at least a portion of the patient X is placed on the placement section 112a and an ethanol treatment (e.g., disinfection) is performed, or if an alcohol swab or other ethanol source used for the treatment is placed on the placement section 112a, ethanol will float around the portion of the patient X placed on the placement section 112a. However, the ethanol removal device 110 actively guides the air containing ethanol floating on the placement surface (a predetermined surface) on the placement section 112a where at least a portion of the patient X is placed, to the intake section 111c using the guide section 112. As a result, the ethanol removal device 110 can remove ethanol using the first removal section 114 and the second removal section 116 inside the housing 111. Therefore, the ethanol removal device 110 can remove ethanol from the air in a short time. In comparison to a method of exchanging the air inside incubator 1 with the air outside incubator 1, the exchange method does not suppress the peak ethanol concentration inside incubator 1 because ethanol evaporated from alcohol swabs, etc., floats around inside the incubator before being discharged outside incubator 1. Furthermore, because the ethanol concentration inside incubator 1 remains high, it takes time to discharge it outside incubator 1, and the effects of ethanol on the child cannot be sufficiently mitigated. In contrast, removal using the ethanol removal device 110 removes ethanol evaporated from alcohol swabs, etc., near the source, thus suppressing the peak ethanol concentration inside incubator 1 and sufficiently mitigating the effects of ethanol on the child. It is also conceivable to open the incubator door, etc., to quickly exchange the air inside and outside incubator 1, but this method cannot be adopted because it causes rapid fluctuations in temperature, humidity, and oxygen concentration, which would be a great burden on the child.

[0034] The mounting section 112a consists of a single plate-like member (such as a resin plate) and is integrally formed with the housing 111. On the side facing the front 111a of the housing 111, the mounting section 112a has a width approximately the same as the longitudinal width of the front 111a, while on the side facing the front 111a, it has a roughly trapezoidal shape with a width longer than the longitudinal width of the front 111a. Thus, the width on the side facing the front 111a is longer than the width on the side facing the front 111a. Adopting this configuration significantly improves the ease of performing procedures on the mounting section 112a. In addition, the mounting section 112a can be used to place a part of the patient X and perform procedures such as disinfection with alcohol swabs, and can also be used as a temporary storage place for alcohol swabs.

[0035] The guide portion 112 has two wall portions 112b, 112b that rise upward from the periphery of the mounting portion 112a. In other words, the wall portions 112b are formed except for the portion facing the intake portion 111c. Here, the wall portions 112b are made of the same type of material as the mounting portion 112a and are formed integrally with it.

[0036] The wall portion 112b prevents ethanol generated after at least a portion of the patient X placed on the placement portion 112a from diffusing outside the placement portion 112a. This makes it possible to more actively guide ethanol-containing air into the intake portion 111c.

[0037] Furthermore, since the wall portion 112b is formed except for the portion facing the intake portion 111c, the practitioner can perform ethanol treatment (disinfection) on at least a portion of the child X placed on the placement portion 112a from the area where the wall portion 112b is not formed. Here, the practitioner is a medical professional, nurse, etc. Also, the ethanol removal device 110 can be configured not to obstruct the guidance of ethanol to the intake portion 111c. This allows ethanol treatment on the treatment target, such as at least a portion of the child X, to be performed without being obstructed by the wall portion 112b. This makes it easier to perform treatment on the treatment target (assuming treatment by a doctor or nurse inside the containment chamber 101 of the incubator 1) and allows for the removal of generated ethanol. Therefore, treatment can be performed on the child X while considering the safety inside the incubator 1. In addition, in order not to interfere with medical procedures on the child X and to improve the ethanol removal rate, the intake portion 111c of the ethanol removal device 110 is positioned in a direction that is appropriate for the airflow of the vaporized ethanol-containing air. Furthermore, the fan speed of the suction section 115 of the ethanol removal device 110 is set so that the airflow velocity of the air drawn in from the intake section 11c is at an appropriate speed.

[0038] The wall portion 112b is highest on the front 111a side of the housing 111 and decreases in height as it moves away from the front 111a. By making the front 111a side of the housing 111 higher than the rear 111b of the wall portion 112b, it is possible to easily guide air to the intake portion 111c. By making the height of the wall portion 112b lower as it moves away from the front 111a, the wall portion 112b does not get in the way, making it easier to perform procedures on the mounting portion 112a. In this way, by making the wall portion 112b highest on the front 111a side of the housing 111 and decreasing in height as it moves away from the front 111a, it is possible to achieve both ease of air introduction and ease of procedure.

[0039] To reliably guide air to the intake section 111c of the housing 111, it is sufficient that at least a portion of the guide section 112 is connected to the intake section 111c. Specifically, it is sufficient that the front 111a-side ends of the mounting section 112a and wall section 112b of the guide section 112 are connected to the intake section 111c. In this case, the air guided to the intake section 111c by the guide section 112 is less likely to leak between the front 111a-side ends of the mounting section 112a and wall section 112b of the guide section 112 and the intake section 111c, and a large amount of air is guided to the intake section 111c. In other words, by connecting at least a portion of the guide section 112 to the intake section 111c, air can be reliably guided to the intake section 111c.

[0040] According to the ethanol removal device 110 with the above configuration, the guide section 112 that guides air containing ethanol to the intake section 111c has a mounting section 112a on which at least a part of the hands, feet, etc. of the child X, who is the target of treatment using ethanol, can be placed. This makes it possible to guide outside air containing ethanol used when performing treatment on the target of treatment at the mounting section 112a to the intake section 111c by the guide section 112. Thus, at least a part of the hands, feet, etc. of the child X, who is the target of treatment, will be placed on or come into contact with the guide section 112. Therefore, it is desirable that the guide section 112 be soft. The material applied to the guide section 112 must, for example, be elastic (or flexible), not easily adsorb ethanol, and not adversely affect the body of the child X or the gas sensor 117, etc. The guide section 112 must be less likely to adsorb ethanol than the first removal section 114.

[0041] Furthermore, since at least a portion of the object to be treated is placed on the mounting section 112a, ethanol will float around the object placed on the mounting section 112a. Therefore, the ethanol-containing air floating on the mounting surface (a predetermined surface) of the object to be treated on the mounting section 112a is actively guided to the intake section 111c by the guide section 112. As a result, the ethanol removal device 110 can remove ethanol from the air in a short time.

[0042] <Method for removing ethanol> Figure 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the ethanol removal method according to this embodiment. The ethanol removal method according to this embodiment is installed in an incubator equipped with a containment chamber 101 in which the internal temperature and humidity can be adjusted for housing a child, and removes vaporized ethanol from the containment chamber 101 as a result of medical procedures using ethanol on a child housed in the containment chamber 101.

[0043] In step 1 (S1), the ethanol removal device 110 guides the air in the containment chamber 101 to the intake section 111c which draws air into the first removal section 114 (guide step). In this embodiment, the first removal section 114 is configured to implement the removal means, and the intake section 111c is configured to implement the intake means.

[0044] In step 2 (S2), the ethanol removal device 110 draws air from the containment chamber 101 through the intake section 111c using the suction section 115 (suction step). In this embodiment, the suction section 115 is configured to provide a suction means.

[0045] In step 3 (S3), the ethanol removal device 110 removes the ethanol contained in the aspirated air using the first removal unit 114 (removal step).

[0046] In step (S4), the ethanol removal device 110 exhausts the air from which ethanol has been removed by the exhaust unit 111d (exhaust step). In this embodiment, the exhaust unit 111d is configured to provide an exhaust means.

[0047] According to the above configuration, since it includes a guide step for directing the air in the containment chamber 101 to the intake section 111c, the air can be efficiently guided by the suction section 115 (suction means). As a result, the fan constituting the suction section 115 can be small, and the entire device for realizing the ethanol removal method can be made small. Therefore, even if the device for realizing the ethanol removal method is used in a closed-type incubator 1, it will not interfere with medical procedures for the child.

[0048] Furthermore, in the exhaust step, the direction in which air is exhausted by the exhaust section 111d (exhaust means) may be different from the direction in which the intake section 111c (intake means) is provided. The intake section 111c takes in air containing ethanol, and the exhaust section 111d exhausts air from which the ethanol has been removed. Therefore, if air from which the ethanol has been removed is directed to the intake section 111c, it will not be possible to efficiently take in air containing ethanol. Accordingly, by setting the direction in which air is exhausted by the exhaust section 111d to be different from the direction in which the intake section 111c is provided, the air exhausted from the exhaust section 111d (air from which the ethanol has been removed) will not interfere with the intake of air containing ethanol by the intake section 111c.

[0049] In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the wall portion 112b of the guide portion 112 is provided on both ends of the mounting portion 112a, but it is not limited to this. For example, the wall portion 112b may be provided not only on both ends of the mounting portion 112a, but also on the mounting portion 112a. This example will be described in Embodiment 2 below.

[0050] [Embodiment 2] Other embodiments of the present invention are described below. For the sake of clarity, components having the same function as those described in the above embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated.

[0051] <Overview of Volatile Removal Device> Figure 4 is a schematic front view of the ethanol removal device 210. The ethanol removal device 210 has the same housing 111 as the ethanol removal device 110 described in Embodiment 1, and has a different guide section 212 than the ethanol removal device 110.

[0052] The guide section 212 includes a mounting section 212a, two first wall sections 212b that rise upward from both side edges of the mounting section 212a, and five second wall sections 212c that are provided on the mounting section 212a at approximately equal intervals and substantially parallel to the first wall sections 212b.

[0053] The first wall portion 212b and the second wall portion 212c have the same shape as the wall portion 112b provided in the guide portion 112 of the ethanol removal device 110 of Embodiment 1.

[0054] The five second wall portions 212c are provided on the mounting portion 212a at approximately equal intervals, and together with the two first wall portions 212b, they form six passages (grooves) for guiding air to the intake portion 111c of the housing 111. With six grooves formed in this way for guiding air to the intake portion 111c of the housing 111, it becomes easier to guide air to the intake portion 111c, and all ethanol from the source contained in the air is removed.

[0055] Similar to the guide portion 112 in Embodiment 1, the guide portion 212 will be rested on or touched by at least a part of the hands, feet, etc., of the child X being treated, so the material of the guide portion 212 needs to be elastic. Furthermore, the guide portion 212 must be resistant to ethanol adsorption, and it is also necessary that the guide portion 212 does not adversely affect the child X or the sensor (gas sensor 117, etc.). The guide portion 212 must be more resistant to ethanol adsorption than the first removal portion 114.

[0056] However, of the mounting portion 212a and the second wall portion 212c that constitute the guide portion 212, it is preferable that at least the second wall portion 212c provided on the mounting portion 212a has elasticity.

[0057] [Embodiment 3] Other embodiments of the present invention are described below. For the sake of clarity, components having the same function as those described in the above embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated.

[0058] <Overview of Ethanol Removal Device> Figure 5 is a schematic front view of the ethanol removal device 110A. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 5.

[0059] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the ethanol removal device 110A has a structure in which the mounting portion 112a is removed from the guide portion 112 of the ethanol removal device 110 of Embodiment 1. In other words, as shown in Figure 5, the ethanol removal device 110A has the same structure as the ethanol removal device 110 of Embodiment 1, except that the structure of the guide portion 112 is different.

[0060] As shown in Figure 6, the housing 111 of the ethanol removal device 110A has a first removal unit 114 and a suction unit 115 arranged in order from the intake unit 111c towards the exhaust unit 111d.

[0061] The suction unit 115 consists of two sirocco fans, which draw air in from the intake unit 111c via the first removal unit 114 and exhaust it from the exhaust unit 111d provided on the rear surface 111b of the housing 111. Here, the intake volume in the suction unit 115 is 20 L or more per minute, but is not limited to this. However, it is preferable that the intake volume in the suction unit 115 be set within a range that does not disturb the environment inside the closed incubator by the intake volume and exhaust volume.

[0062] It is preferable that the air exhausted from the exhaust unit 11d (air from which ethanol has been removed) does not come into contact with the body of the patient X inside the containment chamber 101. Therefore, the ethanol removal device 110 is configured to exhaust the air in a direction away from the patient X inside the containment chamber 101.

[0063] The air drawn in from the intake section 111c of the housing 111 is guided by the guide section 112 described above. The details of the guide section 112 will now be explained. The guide section 112 is formed to guide air containing ethanol to the intake section 111c from a direction that is not perpendicular to the surface 11a of the bed 11, which is the mounting surface on which the alcohol swab Y, the source of ethanol emission, is placed.

[0064] If an alcohol swab Y is placed on the surface 11a of the bed 11, the ethanol generated from the alcohol swab Y will float on the surface on which the alcohol swab Y is placed. However, since the guide portion 112 is formed to guide air containing ethanol to the intake portion 111c from a direction not perpendicular to the surface 11a of the bed 11 on which the alcohol swab Y is placed, the air containing ethanol emitted from the alcohol swab Y placed on the surface can be guided to the intake portion 111c.

[0065] In order to guide air to the intake section 111c of the housing 111, it is preferable that at least a portion of the guide section 112 is in contact with the surface 11a of the bed 11, which is the mounting surface on which the alcohol swab Y that emits ethanol is placed.

[0066] As described above, at least a portion of the guide portion 112 that guides air containing ethanol to the intake portion 111c is in contact with the mounting surface of the bed 11a on which the alcohol swab Y that emits ethanol is placed, thereby more effectively guiding the air containing ethanol emitted by the alcohol swab Y placed on the aforementioned mounting surface to the intake portion 111c.

[0067] As shown in Figure 5, the guide section 112 has two wall sections 112b and 112b that surround a predetermined range Z on the surface of the bed 11 on which the alcohol swab Y that emits volatile substances is placed. Each wall section 112b is formed to protrude forward from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the front surface 111a of the housing 111. The wall sections 112b may be provided to surround the periphery of range Z, but in this embodiment, considering the ease of performing the procedure, the wall sections 112b are formed excluding the portion facing the intake section 111c.

[0068] As a result, the guide section 112 has a wall section 112b that surrounds a predetermined range Z of the surface 11a of the bed 11 on which the alcohol swab Y, which is the source of the ethanol, is placed. This prevents the ethanol emitted from the alcohol swab Y placed on the surface 11a from diffusing outside the guide section 112. This allows the ethanol removal device 110A to more actively guide air containing ethanol into the intake section 111c.

[0069] Furthermore, since the wall portion 112b is formed except for the portion facing the intake portion 111c, it is possible to perform ethanol treatment on at least a portion of the child X placed on the surface 11a from the area where the wall portion 112b is not formed. In addition, the wall portion 112b can be made so as not to obstruct the guidance of ethanol to the intake portion 111c. As a result, the person performing the treatment can perform ethanol treatment on the treatment target, such as at least a portion of the child X, without being obstructed by the wall portion 112b, making it easier to perform treatment on the treatment target (assuming treatment by a doctor or nurse in the containment chamber 101 of the incubator 1), and the generated ethanol can be removed.

[0070] The wall portion 112b is highest on the front 111a side of the housing 111 and becomes lower as it moves away from the front 111a. The reason the wall portion 112b is higher on the front 111a side of the housing 111 is to facilitate the guidance of air to the intake portion 111c when the guide portion 112 is placed on the surface 11a of the bed 11, and the reason it becomes lower as it moves away from the front 111a is to facilitate treatment on the surface on which the alcohol swab Y is placed. In this way, by shaping the wall portion 112b so that it is highest on the front 111a side of the housing 111 and becomes lower as it moves away from the front 111a, it is possible to achieve both ease of air introduction and ease of treatment when the guide portion 112 is placed on the surface 11a of the bed 11.

[0071] In the ethanol removal device 110A with the above configuration, the guide section 112 that guides ethanol-containing air to the intake section 111c is formed to guide ethanol-containing air to the intake section 111c from a direction that is not perpendicular to the surface 11a of the bed 11, which is the mounting surface on which the ethanol-emitting source (such as alcohol swab Y) is placed. As a result, the guide section 112 can guide the ethanol-containing air emitted by the alcohol swab Y placed on the surface 11a of the bed 11 to the intake section 111c. Therefore, the ethanol removal device 110A can actively guide the ethanol-containing air floating on the mounting surface (surface 11a of the bed 11) on which the alcohol swab Y is placed to the intake section 111c by the guide section 112. As a result, the ethanol removal device 110A can remove ethanol contained in the air in a short time. Furthermore, since the direction in which the ethanol-containing air is drawn in by the intake section 111c is not perpendicular to the surface 11a of the bed 11 on which the alcohol swab Y is placed (e.g., horizontal, diagonal), the guide section 112 is less likely to obstruct the placement of the alcohol swab Y onto the surface 11a of the bed 11 from above. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, if the direction in which the air is drawn in by the intake section 111c is not perpendicular to the surface 11a of the bed 11 on which the alcohol swab Y is placed (e.g., horizontal), the top of the guide section 112 (facing the surface 11a of the bed 11) is open. As a result, the physician can place the alcohol swab Y from above the open guide section 112, and the physician's action of placing the alcohol swab Y is not obstructed by the guide section 112.

[0072] (Example of use) Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the use of the ethanol removal device 110A. The ethanol removal device 110A is basically used with the guide section 112 and housing 111 placed on the surface 11a of the bed 11, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

[0073] As shown in Figure 7, the ethanol removal device 110A may be used to guide air containing ethanol generated from the alcohol swab Y placed on the surface 11a to the intake section 111c, with the tip of the wall portion 112b of the guide portion 112 in contact with the surface 11a of the bed 11, and tilted at a predetermined angle θ (0 ≤ < θ < 90°) from the surface 11a. In other words, the ethanol removal device 110A may be used to guide air to the intake section 111c from a direction that is not perpendicular to the surface 11a of the bed 11.

[0074] Furthermore, in the ethanol removal device 110A shown in Figure 7, the wall portion 112b may be made of an elastic material so that the tip of the wall portion 112b is slightly bent to increase the area in contact with the bed 11.

[0075] Furthermore, the wall portion 112b of the ethanol removal device 110A shown in Figure 7 may be cut out in part on the bed 11 side.

[0076] As shown in Figure 7, when the ethanol removal device 110A is used at an angle, the ethanol removal device 110A may be supported by leaning the exhaust port 111d side of the housing 111 against the partition 12. The partition 12 and the ethanol removal device 110A may be integrated. However, the configuration for supporting the ethanol removal device 110A at an angle is not limited to these. For example, a support member (not shown) having an inclined surface may be installed on the surface 11a of the bed, and the ethanol removal device 110A may be supported by the inclined surface of this support member. The support member and the ethanol removal device 110A may be integrated.

[0077] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, if the ethanol removal device 110A is tilted and supported, it becomes possible to perform treatment by inserting fingers or other objects from below the ethanol removal device 110A (between the bed 11 and the ethanol removal device 110A).

[0078] (Drive control of ethanol removal device) The ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A of the embodiments 1, 2, and 3 are configured to start and stop the fan inside the suction unit 115 by turning the power on and off. This power source may be a battery (primary battery, rechargeable battery, etc.), an external power source, or a combination of an external power source and a rechargeable battery. When the ethanol removal device is installed in the incubator each time it is used, a battery is preferred as the power source, and when the ethanol removal device is permanently installed in the incubator, an external power source is preferred. Normally, when performing treatment on patient X in the containment chamber 101, the practitioner (doctor or nurse) turns on the power to start the fan in the suction unit 115. Furthermore, the suction force in the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A can be adjusted by the rotation speed of the fan inside the suction unit 115, so that the ethanol can be properly aspirated and removed by changing the rotation speed of the fan according to the concentration of ethanol to be removed.

[0079] Furthermore, the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A of embodiments 1, 2, and 3 each have a function to display their operating status (drive status). The function to display the drive status means explicitly displaying whether or not the device is running, whether or not it is stopped, whether or not the filter (activated carbon in the removal section) needs to be replaced, whether or not a problem has occurred, whether or not the battery is low, etc. In this case, the drive status may be displayed on a display panel, or it may be indicated by lighting up a lamp corresponding to the drive status. This prevents operators from forgetting to operate the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A. In addition, the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A can display a message prompting the user to replace the filter.

[0080] Furthermore, the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A of embodiments 1, 2, and 3 are all designed to have a low height when laid down, so as not to interfere with work inside the incubator 1(2). In addition, it is preferable that the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A are sized to allow easy insertion and removal of adsorbent material from the opening 101a of the incubator 1(2) when replacing the adsorbent material in the removal section. It is also preferable that the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A of embodiments 1, 2, and 3 have a mass (for example, 120g) that is easy to handle and insert and remove from the opening 101a of the incubator 1(2). In this way, the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A can be used inside existing incubators in the ward.

[0081] [Variation 1] In the above embodiment 1, an example was described in which the containment chamber 101 is provided with two treatment openings 101a. However, the number of openings 101a only needs to be at least two, and may be three or more.

[0082] [Variation 2] In the above embodiment 1, an example was described in which the drive control of the ethanol removal device 110 is performed by operating the operation unit provided on each device. However, it may also be performed by operating the operation panel 102a provided on the incubator 1.

[0083] [Variation 3] In the above embodiment 1, as shown in Figure 1, the incubator 1 circulates air within the incubator 1 by the circulation unit 410, supplies air into the incubator 1 from the supply unit 420, and discharges air outside the incubator 1 from the discharge unit 430, all located above the bed 11 in the containment chamber 101. In other words, the main air circulation in the incubator 1 shown in Figure 1 takes place above the bed 11 in the containment chamber 101. Therefore, the airflow to the patient X on the bed 11 in the containment chamber 101 may affect the temperature change inside the incubator 1. To minimize the effect of temperature changes due to airflow on the patient X on the bed 11 in the containment chamber 101, it is preferable to circulate air within the incubator 2, supply air into the incubator 2, and discharge air outside the incubator 2, for example, as shown in the incubator 2 in Figure 8, at the lower side of the bed 11 in the containment chamber 101. Furthermore, regarding the direction of air discharge from inside incubator 2 to outside incubator 2, it is preferable to discharge the air in a direction that does not obstruct the air circulation direction inside incubator 2 (for example, in the same direction as the circulation direction).

[0084] The incubator 2 shown in Figure 8 has the same circulation unit 410 and supply unit 420 as in Figure 1, located below the bed 11, although these are not shown. The incubator 2 shown in Figure 8 does not have a device to actively discharge the air from the incubator 2 to the outside, unlike the discharge unit 430 shown in Figure 1 of Embodiment 1. Instead, the air inside the incubator 2 is discharged to the outside through the opening 101a of the containment chamber 101, the small gap between the containment chamber 101 and the mounting base 102, etc.

[0085] In the incubator 2 shown in Figure 8, air whose temperature and humidity have been regulated by a circulation unit 410 located beneath the bed 11 is guided along the inner wall on the long side of the incubator 2 from beneath the bed 11 to the upper part of the containment chamber 101. In addition, air from above the bed 11 is guided along the inner wall on the short side of the incubator 2 to the circulation unit 410 beneath the bed 11. In this way, the air in the incubator 2 is circulated in such a way that the patient X is less affected by temperature changes due to airflow.

[0086] Therefore, the incubator 2 shown in Figure 8 can keep the air inside the incubator 2 clean and maintain appropriate temperature and humidity levels while minimizing the influence of airflow on the patient X in the containment chamber 101.

[0087] [Variation 4] In the first embodiment described above, an example was given in which the intake section 111c provided in the ethanol removal device 110 is provided in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the front surface 111a of the housing 111. However, the invention is not limited to this, and it can be provided anywhere and in any structure as long as it can take in air. Also, in the first embodiment described above, an example was given in which the exhaust section 111d provided in the ethanol removal device 110 is provided on the rear surface 111b of the housing 111. However, the invention is not limited to this, and it can be provided anywhere and in any structure as long as it can exhaust air. Furthermore, the guide section 112 provided in the ethanol removal device 110 can have any structure as long as it can guide air to the intake section 111c.

[0088] [Variation 5] In the above embodiment 1, an example was described in which the first removal unit 114 is of cartridge type and can be attached to and detached from the housing 111. Similarly, it is preferable that the second removal unit 116 is also of cartridge type. In this case, the cartridge-type second removal unit 116 is attached to and detached from the top surface of the housing 111, similar to the first removal unit 114. Thus, if both the first removal unit 114 and the second removal unit 116 are of cartridge type, they can be easily attached to and detached from the housing 111, making it easy to replace the adsorbent material in each removal unit.

[0089] [Variation 6] In the above-described embodiment 1, since the direction of air flowing through the first removal section 114 and the suction section 115 is perpendicular to the rotation axis direction of the fan, a sirocco fan was used for the fan in the suction section 115. However, it is not limited to this. For example, if the direction of air flowing through the first removal section 114 and the suction section 115 is the same as the rotation axis direction of the fan, an axial flow fan can be used for the fan in the suction section 115. In this way, other types of fans may be used depending on the arrangement position of the first removal section 114 and the suction section 115. Furthermore, the number of fans used in the suction section 115 is not limited to two, but may be one or three or more. Moreover, the type and number of fans should be appropriately determined considering the required airflow, battery, and power consumption.

[0090] [Variation 7] In the first embodiment described above, the mounting portion 112a of the guide portion 112 was described as being formed integrally with the housing 111. However, it may be formed separately from the housing 111 and be connectable to the housing 111. When the mounting portion 112a is separate from the housing 111, mounting portions 112a of different sizes and shapes can be prepared, allowing for the provision of an ethanol removal device 110 suited to the installation environment. Furthermore, the shape and size of the mounting portion 112a are not particularly limited.

[0091] [Variation 8] In the above embodiment 1, two examples of the wall portion 112b were described, but the wall portion 112b only needs to be formed except for the portion facing the intake portion 111c, so it is not limited to two, and may be one. In other words, the guide portion 112 only needs to have at least one wall portion 112b.

[0092] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the wall portion 112b is described as being highest on the front surface 111a side of the housing 111 and decreasing in height as it moves away from the front surface 111a, but it is not limited to this shape. For example, considering the ease of introducing air into the intake portion 111c, the height of the wall portion 112b on the front surface 111a side of the housing 111 and the height at the position furthest from the front surface 111a may be the same. Also, considering the ease of handling on the mounting portion 112a, it is preferable to make the height of the wall portion 112b as low as possible.

[0093] As described in Embodiment 1, the wall portion 112b may be formed of the same type of material as the mounting portion 112a, or it may be formed of a different type of material. Furthermore, as described in Embodiment 1, the wall portion 112b may be formed integrally with the mounting portion 112a, or it may be formed separately from the mounting portion 112a. Also, if the wall portion 112b is formed separately from the mounting portion 112a, it may be detachable from the mounting portion 112a. In addition, the guide portion may have a structure that slightly extends the top surface of the housing 111 toward the mounting portion 112a (a protruding structure). In this way, air is efficiently guided to the intake portion 111c by the guide portion.

[0094] [Variation 9] In the above embodiment 2, the shapes of the first wall portion 212b and the second wall portion 212c of the guide portion 212 are the same as the wall portion 112b provided on the guide portion 112 in the above embodiment 1, but the shape is not limited to this. For example, considering the ease of introducing air into the intake portion 111c, the height of the first wall portion 212b on the front surface 111a side of the housing 111 and the height at the position furthest from the front surface 111a may be the same. Also, considering the ease of handling on the mounting portion 212a, the heights of the first wall portion 212b and the second wall portion 212c may be made as low as possible.

[0095] The second wall portion 212c may have the same shape as the first wall portion 212b, or a different shape, as long as it does not interfere with the treatment. Furthermore, a lower height for the second wall portion 212c makes it easier to perform treatment on the mounting portion 212a. Also, the number of second wall portions 212c is not limited to five; there may be fewer than five or more than five. In addition, if the first wall portion 212b and the second wall portion 212c are formed separately from the mounting portion 212a, they may be detachable from the mounting portion 212a. Furthermore, the second wall portion 212c may be provided only in a part of the mounting portion 212a (for example, near the first wall portion 212b). By doing so, a space is secured on the mounting portion 212a that makes it easy to place the object to be treated, while also making it easier to guide air to the intake portion 111c, and enabling the removal of ethanol contained in the air in a short time.

[0096] [Experimental variation 10] In the ethanol removal devices 110 and 210 of the above embodiments 1 and 2, the guide portion 112 and housing 111, and the guide portion 212 and housing 111 are usually used with the guide portion 112 and housing 111 placed on the surface 11a of the bed 11, but the device is not limited to this. For example, the tips of the guide portion 112 of the ethanol removal device 110 and the guide portion 212 of the ethanol removal device 210 may be brought into contact with the surface 11a of the bed 11, and the device may be held inclined at a predetermined angle θ (0≦<θ<90°) from the surface 11a, so as to guide the air containing ethanol generated from the ethanol source (e.g., alcohol swabs) placed on the mounting portion 112a and mounting portion 212a to the intake portion 111c.

[0097] [Experimental Variation 11] In the above embodiment 3, as shown in Figure 6, the alcohol swab Y was placed directly on the bed 11, but it is not limited to this, and it may also be placed on a tray (not shown), and the tray may be placed on the bed 11, so that the air containing ethanol is guided to the intake section 111c by the guide section 112.

[0098] [Variation 12] In the above embodiment 3, an example in which two wall portions 112b are formed was described, but the wall portions 112b only need to be formed except for the portion facing the intake portion 111c, so they are not limited to two, and may be one. In other words, the guide portion 112 only needs to have at least one wall portion 112b that surrounds a predetermined range Z on the surface of the bed 11 on which the alcohol swab Y is placed.

[0099] Furthermore, in the above embodiment 3, an example was described in which the wall portion 112b is highest on the front surface 111a side of the housing 111 and decreases in height as it moves away from the front surface 111a. However, it is not limited to this shape, and for example, if the ease of introducing air into the intake portion 111c is considered, the height of the wall portion 112b on the front surface 111a side of the housing 111 and the height at the position furthest from the front surface 111a may be the same. Also, if the ease of handling the alcohol swab Y on the placement surface is considered with the guide portion 112 placed on the surface 11a of the bed 11, it is preferable to make the height of the wall portion 112b as low as possible. In addition, the wall portion 112b may be detachable from the housing 111.

[0100] To reliably guide air to the intake section 111c of the housing 111, it is sufficient that at least a portion of the guide section 112 is connected to the intake section 111c. Specifically, it is sufficient that the front end 111a side of the wall section 112b of the guide section 112 is connected to the intake section 111c. In this case, the air guided to the intake section 111c by the guide section 112 is less likely to leak from between the front end 111a side of the wall section 112b of the guide section 112 and the intake section 111c, and a large amount of air is guided to the intake section 111c. In other words, by connecting at least a portion of the guide section 112 to the intake section 111c, air can be reliably guided to the intake section 111c. Alternatively, the top surface of the housing 111 may be extended slightly toward the mounting section (for example, the surface 11a of the bed 11) to serve as the guide section. In this way, air can be efficiently guided to the intake section 111c.

[0101] [Example 13] In the above embodiment 3, as an example of using the ethanol removal device 110A, as shown in Figure 7, an example was described in which the ethanol removal device 110A is used with the tip of the wall portion 112b of the guide portion 112 in contact with the surface 11a of the bed 11 and tilted at a predetermined angle θ (0 ≤ < θ < 90°) from the surface 11a. However, the invention is not limited to this. For example, since only a wall portion 112b is formed on the guide portion 112 of the ethanol removal device 110A, the tip of the wall portion 112b may be in contact with the surface 11a of the bed 11 and the ethanol removal device 110 may be used with the tip of the wall portion 112b in contact with the surface 11a of the bed 11 and tilted at a predetermined angle θ (90° < θ ≤ 180°) from the surface 11a of the bed 11. In other words, the ethanol removal device 110A may be used to guide the air intake portion 111c from a direction that is not perpendicular to the surface 11a of the bed 11.

[0102] [Variation 14] In the above embodiment 3, an example of one removal unit of the first removal unit 114 was described as the removal unit of the ethanol removal device 110A, but it is not limited to this, and there may be two or more removal units.

[0103] For example, as shown in Figure 10, a first removal unit 114, a suction unit 115, and a second removal unit 116 may be arranged in order from the intake unit 111c to the exhaust unit 111d within the housing 111.

[0104] The first removal unit 114 consists of a sheet of activated carbon and quickly adsorbs most of the ethanol contained in the air drawn in from the intake unit 111c. Therefore, if the amount of ethanol in the air is small, the first removal unit 114 will adsorb all of it.

[0105] The second removal unit 116 consists of pelletized activated carbon and slowly and reliably adsorbs ethanol contained in the air drawn in by the suction unit 115. The air from which ethanol has been adsorbed by the second removal unit 116 is exhausted from the exhaust unit 111d provided on the rear surface 111b of the housing 111.

[0106] As described above, the first removal section 114 uses sheet-shaped activated carbon as an adsorbent to quickly adsorb a large amount of high-concentration ethanol, while the second removal section 116 uses pellet-shaped activated carbon as an adsorbent to slowly adsorb any ethanol that was not adsorbed by the first removal section 114.

[0107] Therefore, the air drawn in from the intake section 111c of the housing 111 has a large amount of ethanol quickly adsorbed by the first removal section 114, and furthermore, the ethanol is completely adsorbed by the second removal section 116, so that the ethanol in the air drawn in from the intake section 111c can be sufficiently removed.

[0108] [Variation 15] In Embodiment 3, similar to Embodiment 1, the direction of air flowing through the first removal section 114 and the suction section 115 is perpendicular to the rotation axis direction of the fan, so a sirocco fan was used for the suction section 115. However, it is not limited to this. For example, if the direction of air flowing through the first removal section 114 and the suction section 115 is the same as the rotation axis direction of the fan, an axial flow fan can be used for the suction section 115. Thus, other types of fans may be used for the suction section 115 depending on the arrangement of the first removal section 114 and the suction section 115. Furthermore, the number of fans used in the suction section 115 is not limited to two, but may be one or three or more. In addition, the type and number of fans should be appropriately determined considering the required airflow, battery, and power consumption.

[0109] [Variation 16] In the embodiments 1 to 3 described above, an example of a single removal unit of the first removal unit 114 was described as the removal unit of the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A, but the invention is not limited to this, and there may be two or more removal units.

[0110] For example, as shown in Figure 9, a first removal unit 114, a suction unit 115, and a second removal unit 116 may be arranged in order from the intake unit 111c to the exhaust unit 111d within the housing 111.

[0111] The first removal section 114 consists of sheet-shaped activated carbon and, compared to the second removal section 116, quickly adsorbs most of the ethanol contained in the air drawn in from the intake section 111c. In other words, the first removal section 114 has higher adsorption performance than the second removal section 116 in terms of adsorption rate. Therefore, if the amount of ethanol contained in the air is small, all of the ethanol will be adsorbed by the first removal section 114. However, since the first removal section 114 consists of sheet-shaped activated carbon, its adsorption performance tends to decrease in terms of persistence compared to the second removal section 116.

[0112] On the other hand, the second removal section 116 is made of pelletized activated carbon and, compared to the first removal section 114, slowly adsorbs the ethanol contained in the air drawn in by the suction section 115. In other words, the second removal section 116 has lower adsorption performance than the first removal section 114 in terms of adsorption rate. However, since the second removal section 116 is made of pelletized activated carbon, its adsorption performance does not deteriorate as easily in terms of persistence compared to the first removal section 114. The air from which ethanol has been adsorbed by the second removal section 116 is exhausted from the exhaust section 111d provided on the rear surface 111b of the housing 111.

[0113] As described above, the first removal unit 114 uses sheet-shaped activated carbon as an adsorbent to quickly adsorb a large amount of high-concentration ethanol, while the second removal unit 116 uses pellet-shaped activated carbon as an adsorbent to slowly adsorb any ethanol that has not been adsorbed by the first removal unit 114.

[0114] Therefore, the air drawn in from the intake section 111c of the housing 111 has a large amount of ethanol quickly adsorbed by the first removal section 114, and furthermore, the ethanol is completely adsorbed by the second removal section 116, so that the ethanol in the air drawn in from the intake section 111c can be sufficiently removed.

[0115] [Example 17] In the first removal section 114 of embodiments 1 to 3 described above, an example using pelletized activated carbon as the adsorbent has been explained, but the invention is not limited to this, and other adsorbents such as sheet-shaped activated carbon and pelletized activators may also be used.

[0116] Furthermore, in the modified example 16 described above, a sheet-shaped activated carbon was used as the adsorbent in the first removal section 114, and pellet-shaped activated carbon was used as the adsorbent in the second removal section 116. However, the invention is not limited to these examples, and other adsorbents may be used in each removal section.

[0117] Furthermore, in the modified example 16 described above, an example was given in which the adsorbents used in the first removal section 114 and the second removal section 116 were different, but they may be the same. In addition, in order to remove ethanol, the ethanol may be decomposed by a catalyst instead of adsorbing it with an adsorbent.

[0118] Furthermore, ethanol may be removed by both adsorption and decomposition. For example, the first removal section 114 and the second removal section 116 may each be equipped with an adsorbent and a catalyst, so that ethanol is adsorbed by the adsorbent and decomposed by the catalyst within a single removal section. Alternatively, the first removal section 114 may decompose ethanol with the catalyst and the second removal section 116 may adsorb ethanol with the adsorbent, or the first removal section 114 may adsorb ethanol with the adsorbent and the second removal section 116 may decompose ethanol with the catalyst. The adsorbent or catalyst used in the first removal section 114 and the second removal section 116 may be the same or different.

[0119] Furthermore, the first removal unit 114 and the second removal unit 116 may adsorb or decompose different substances. For example, the first removal unit 114 may adsorb or decompose volatile substances other than ethanol, and the second removal unit 116 may adsorb or decompose ethanol, or the first removal unit 114 may adsorb or decompose ethanol, and the second removal unit 116 may adsorb or decompose volatile substances other than ethanol.

[0120] [Variation 18] In the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A of the embodiments described above, drive control was performed by turning the power on and off, but this is not limited to this. For example, a concentration sensor for detecting the concentration of ethanol may be installed in the containment chamber 101, and the drive control of the ethanol removal devices 110 and 210 may be performed based on the detection signal from the concentration sensor. For example, when the ethanol concentration indicated by the detection signal from the concentration sensor reaches a predetermined concentration or higher, the fans of the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A may be started to drive, and when it falls below the predetermined concentration, the fans of the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A may be stopped to drive. Furthermore, while the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A are driving, if the detection signal from the concentration sensor indicates that the ethanol concentration has risen further above the predetermined concentration, the rotation speed of the fan in the suction unit 115 may be increased to increase the suction force and more actively suck up the ethanol in the containment chamber 101. This makes it possible to quickly suck up and remove ethanol.

[0121] [Variation 19] In the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A of the embodiments described above, a gas sensor 117 is provided between the first removal unit 114 and the suction unit 115 to detect the ethanol concentration contained in the air discharged from the first removal unit 114. However, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, even if a second removal unit 116 is provided in addition to the first removal unit 114, the gas sensor 117 may also be provided on the exhaust side of each removal unit.

[0122] In this case, the control units (not shown) of the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A determine the adsorption state of the first removal unit 114 and the second removal unit 116 (whether they are in a breakthrough state (a state where adsorption exceeds the adsorption function and the adsorbed material is leaking) or a state where adsorption is sufficient) based on the ethanol concentration detected by the gas sensor 117. Furthermore, the control units are not limited to determining the adsorption state of the first removal unit 114 and the second removal unit 116 using the gas sensor 117, but may also determine the adsorption state of the first removal unit 114 and the second removal unit 116 by other methods (methods using sensors other than the gas sensor 117).

[0123] The detection means, including the gas sensor 117, may be provided inside the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A, or outside the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A, but it is preferable to provide it, for example, downstream of the first removal unit 114 (between the first removal unit 114 and the second removal unit 116). By doing so, the first removal unit 114 can be replaced before it reaches a state where it cannot adequately adsorb due to a decrease in its adsorption function, or before it reaches a state where it breaks through due to an increase in the adsorption amount of the second removal unit 116. Alternatively, the detection means may be provided downstream of the second removal unit 116 to detect the adsorption state of the second removal unit 116. Alternatively, detection means may be provided both between the first removal unit 114 and the second removal unit 116, and downstream of the second removal unit 116, so as to detect the adsorption state of both the first removal unit 114 and the second removal unit 116.

[0124] Alternatively, the ethanol removal devices 110 and 210 may be driven and controlled by combining the detection result of a concentration sensor installed in the containment chamber 101 for detecting ethanol concentration and the detection result of the detection means for detecting the adsorption state.

[0125] Furthermore, the gas sensor 117 may be provided upstream of the first removal unit 114. In this case, the gas sensor 117 detects the ethanol concentration in the air before the ethanol is adsorbed by the first removal unit 114. That is, the gas sensor 117 detects the concentration of ethanol in the air inside the incubator 1. The operation of the fan of the suction unit 115 may be controlled based on the ethanol concentration detected by the gas sensor 117. For example, the rotation speed of the fan of the suction unit 115 is controlled according to the ethanol concentration detected by the gas sensor 117. In other words, if the ethanol concentration is high, the rotation speed of the fan is increased, and if the ethanol concentration is low, the rotation speed of the fan is decreased.

[0126] Furthermore, the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A are equipped with a communication unit and may be used as a monitoring device to monitor the ethanol concentration inside the incubator by communicating the ethanol concentration information detected by the gas sensor 117 to an external device using the communication unit.

[0127] [Variation 20] In this modified configuration, as shown in Figure 11, a first shielding member 121 extending downward from the top of the first opening 114b blocks a portion of the first opening 114b. Similarly, a second shielding member 122 extending upward from the bottom of the second opening 114c blocks a portion of the second opening 114c. The first shielding member 121 blocks approximately two-thirds of the upper part of the first opening 114b, and the second shielding member 122 blocks approximately two-thirds of the lower part of the second opening 114c. In this case, as shown in Figure 11, air entering from the intake section 111c enters from below the first opening 114b of the first removal section 114, exits from above the second opening 114c, and is then sucked in by the suction section 115. In other words, the air taken into the first removal section 114 flows from the bottom to the top of the pelletized activated carbon 114a, so that the air reaches almost the entire surface of the pelletized activated carbon 114a before being exhausted from the first removal section 114. Note that the arrangement of the first shielding member 121 and the second shielding member 122 is not limited to the example shown in Figure 11. For example, the first shielding member 121 may be formed from the bottom to the top of the first opening 114b, and the second shielding member 122 may be formed from the top to the bottom of the second opening 114c, or only one of the first shielding member 121 or the second shielding member 122 may be provided. In this case, the air taken into the first removal section 114 flows from the top to the bottom of the pelletized activated carbon 114a, reaching almost the entire surface of the pelletized activated carbon 114a. Furthermore, the lengths of the first shielding member 121 and the second shielding member 122, in other words, the extent to which they block the first opening 114b and the second opening 114c, are not limited to those described above and should be set appropriately considering the adsorption performance of the adsorption part, the airflow rate, etc.

[0128] [Variation 21] In embodiments 1 to 3 described above, the power on and off of the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A was described as being performed by operating the power button on the control panel of each device, but this is not the only example. For example, the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A may be equipped with a tilt sensor, and the drive of the fan of the suction unit 115 may be controlled based on the detection signal from the tilt sensor. In this case, with the main power on, if the detection signal from the tilt sensor indicates that the tilt angle with respect to the ground is 0°±5°, the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A will be determined to be in operation and will drive the fan of the suction unit 115 to perform the ethanol adsorption operation. On the other hand, with the main power on, if the detection signal from the tilt sensor indicates that the tilt angle with respect to the ground is 60°±20°, the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A will be determined to be in a stopped state and will stop the fan of the suction unit 115 to stop the ethanol adsorption operation. In other words, even when the main power is on, the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A are designed to determine whether they are in operation or stopped before controlling the operation of the fan in the suction unit 115, thus preventing users from forgetting to operate or stop the device. Note that the angle at which the tilt sensor determines whether the device is in operation or stopped is not limited to the values ​​mentioned above, but can be set as appropriate.

[0129] [Variation 22] In embodiments 1 to 3 described above, the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A may be equipped with a wind speed sensor (hereinafter referred to as a wind speed sensor) on the intake side. In this case, the control unit in the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A controls the drive of the motor that rotates the fan of the suction unit 115 according to the wind speed detected by the wind speed sensor. For example, if the wind speed sensor detects a wind speed within a predetermined range, the control unit controls the motor to maintain a constant rotation speed for the fan of the suction unit 115. For example, if the wind speed sensor detects a wind speed exceeding a predetermined range and faster than a certain wind speed, the control unit controls the motor to lower the rotation speed of the fan of the suction unit 115, and if it detects a wind speed slower than a certain wind speed, it controls the motor to increase the rotation speed of the fan of the suction unit 115. As a result, the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A can prevent the motor that rotates the fan of the suction unit 115 from operating excessively and affecting the environment inside the incubator 1(2). Thus, by equipping the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A with wind speed sensors, they can constantly monitor the wind speed on the intake side. As a result, the ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A can draw in an appropriate amount of air.

[0130] In the embodiments and modified examples described above, ethanol was used as an example of the volatile substance to be removed, but it is not limited to ethanol, and other volatile substances such as isopropanol may also be used.

[0131] Furthermore, although the above embodiments and modifications were described using a closed-type incubator as an example, the volatile substance removal device of the present invention may also be used with an open-type incubator, which is not a closed-type incubator.

[0132] Ethanol removal devices 110, 210, and 110A relating to one aspect of this disclosure are installed in incubators 1 and 2 equipped with a containment chamber 101 in which the internal temperature and humidity can be adjusted for housing a child, and are ethanol removal devices that remove vaporized ethanol from the containment chamber 101 in connection with a medical procedure using ethanol performed on a child X housed in the containment chamber 101, and may include a suction section 115 that draws in air from inside the containment chamber 101 from an intake section 111c, a first removal section 114 that removes ethanol contained in the air, an exhaust section 111d that exhausts the air from which ethanol has been removed by the first removal section 114, and guide sections 112 and 212 that guide air to the intake section 111c.

[0133] According to the above configuration, guide sections 112 and 212 are provided to guide the air inside the closed incubators 1 and 2 to the intake section, so that air can be efficiently guided to the suction section 115. As a result, the fan constituting the suction section 115 can be small, and the entire device can be made small. Therefore, even when the ethanol removal devices 110, 210 and 110A are used inside the closed incubators 1 and 2, they can be made small so as not to interfere with medical procedures for the child X.

[0134] The guide sections 112 and 212 may have mounting sections 112a and 212a on which at least a portion of the object to be treated in the ethanol treatment and at least one of the source that emits the ethanol used in the treatment can be placed. By having mounting sections 112a and 212a on which at least a portion of the object to be treated in the ethanol treatment (e.g., the hands and feet of the child) or the source that emits the ethanol used in the treatment can be placed, the guide sections 112 and 212 can guide the air containing ethanol generated when the object to be treated X is treated on the mounting sections 112a and 212a to the intake section 111c. In addition, the guide sections 112 and 212 can actively guide the air containing ethanol floating near the source that emits the ethanol used in the treatment, which is placed on the mounting sections 112a and 212a, to the intake section 111c. This makes it possible to remove the ethanol contained in the air inside the closed incubators 1 and 2 in a short time.

[0135] The guide sections 112 and 212 may have at least one first wall section (wall portion) 112b, 212b that rises upward from the periphery of the mounting sections 112a, 212a. By having at least one first wall section (wall portion) 112b, 212b that rises upward from the periphery of the mounting sections 112a, 212a, the ethanol generated when treating the object placed on the mounting sections 112a, 212a can be prevented from diffusing outside the mounting sections 112a, 212a by the wall. This makes it possible to more actively guide ethanol-containing air into the intake section 111c.

[0136] Guide sections 112, 212 may have at least one second wall section (wall section) 112b, 212c provided on the mounting surface of the mounting section 112a, 212a in parallel with the first wall section (wall section) 112b, 212b. With the above configuration, the provision of the second wall section (wall section) 112b, 212c on the mounting surface allows air to flow between the first wall section (wall section) 112b, 212b and the second wall section (wall section) 112b, 212c on the mounting surface, making it easier to guide air to the intake section 111c.

[0137] The first wall portions 112b and 212b may be formed excluding the portion facing the intake portion 111c. By forming the first wall portions 112b and 212b excluding the portion facing the intake portion 111c, it is possible to perform ethanol treatment on the treatment target X placed on the mounting portions 112a and 212a from the area where the wall is not formed. Furthermore, it is possible to avoid obstructing the guidance of ethanol to the intake portion 111c. As a result, ethanol treatment on the treatment target X can be performed without being obstructed by the wall, making it easier to perform treatment on the treatment target X and allowing for the removal of ethanol from the air.

[0138] Of the first wall portions (wall portions) 112b, 212b and the second wall portions (wall portions) 112b, 212c, at least the second wall portions (wall portions) 112b, 212c may be made of an elastic material. With the above configuration, the elasticity of the second wall portions (wall portions) 112b, 212c provided on the mounting surface makes it less likely for the hands or feet of the child X to be treated to be injured when placed on the mounting portions 112a, 212a.

[0139] At least a portion of the guide sections 112 and 212 may be connected to the intake section 111c. By connecting at least a portion of the guide sections 112 and 212 to the intake section 111c in this way, air can be reliably guided to the intake section 111c.

[0140] A breakthrough sensor (gas sensor) 117 may be provided to detect whether or not the first removal unit 114 is in a breakthrough state. With the above configuration, the breakthrough state of the first removal unit 114 can be determined by providing the breakthrough sensor (gas sensor) 117, and therefore the state of the first removal unit 114 can be determined.

[0141] The first removal section 114 may be replaceable. With the above configuration, since the first removal section 114 is replaceable, if the first removal section 114 is in a broken state, it can be replaced immediately.

[0142] An ethanol removal method relating to one aspect of this disclosure is installed in incubators 1 and 2 equipped with a containment chamber 101 in which the internal temperature and humidity can be adjusted for containing a patient X, and is a removal method for removing vaporized ethanol in connection with a medical procedure using ethanol on patient X contained in the containment chamber 101. The ethanol removal method includes the following steps: a guide step (S1), a suction step (S2), a removal step (S3), and an exhaust step (S4). · Guide step (S1): Guide the air in the containment chamber 101 to an intake means (e.g., intake section 111c) that draws air into a removal means (e.g., a first removal section 114). · Suction step (S2): Draw air from the intake means (e.g., intake section 111c) into the incubators 1 and 2 using an intake means (e.g., intake section 115). · Removal step (S3): Remove the ethanol contained in the drawn air using a removal means (e.g., a first removal section 114). • Exhaust step (S4): The air from which ethanol has been removed is exhausted by an exhaust means (e.g., exhaust unit 111d).

[0143] According to the above configuration, since it includes a guide step for directing the air inside the closed incubators 1 and 2 to the intake section 111c, the air can be efficiently guided by the suction means. As a result, the fan constituting the suction means can be small, and the entire device for realizing the ethanol removal method can be made small. Therefore, even if the device for realizing the ethanol removal method is used inside the closed incubators 1 and 2, it will not interfere with medical procedures for the child X.

[0144] The direction in which the air is exhausted by the exhaust means may be different from the direction in which the intake means is provided. The intake means draws in air containing ethanol, and the exhaust means exhausts air from which the ethanol has been removed. Therefore, if air from which the ethanol has been removed is directed to the intake means, it will not be possible to efficiently draw in air containing ethanol. Accordingly, by setting the direction in which the air is exhausted by the exhaust means to be different from the direction in which the intake means is provided, the air exhausted from the exhaust means (air from which the ethanol has been removed) will not interfere with the intake of air containing ethanol by the intake means.

[0145] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and variations described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0146] 1 Incubator, 2 Incubator, 11 Bed, 11a Surface, 12 Partition, 13 Bed Stage, 101 Chamber, 101a Opening, 102 Mounting Platform, 102a Control Panel, 110 Ethanol Removal Device (Volatile Substance Removal Device), 110A Ethanol Removal Device (Volatile Substance Removal Device), 111 Housing, 111a Front, 111b Rear, 111c Intake, 111d Exhaust, 112 Guide, 112a Mounting Platform, 112b Wall, 114 First Removal Unit, 115 Suction Unit, 116 Second Removal Unit, 210 Ethanol Removal Device (Volatile Substance Removal Device), 212 Guide, 212a Mounting Platform, 212b First Wall, 212c Second Wall, X Patient (Target of Treatment)

Claims

1. A suction section that draws air from an intake section; A removal unit that removes volatile substances to be removed that are contained in the air; an exhaust unit that exhausts the air from which the volatile substances have been removed by the removal unit; A guide portion that guides the air to the intake portion, The guide portion is formed to have a placement portion on which an object can be placed.

2. A volatile substance removal device as described in claim 1, wherein the object to be placed is at least a portion of a treatment target of a treatment using the volatile substance, and at least one of a source of the volatile substance.

3. The guide portion is The volatile substance removal device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one wall portion rising upward from a peripheral edge of the mounting portion.

4. A volatile substance removal device as described in claim 3, wherein the wall portion is formed except for the portion facing the intake portion.

5. When the guide portion is formed to guide the outside air containing the volatile substance to the intake portion from a direction that is not perpendicular to the placement surface on which the object is placed, The volatile substance removal device according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the guide portion is in contact with a placement surface on which the object is placed.

6. The guide portion is The volatile substance removal device according to claim 5 , further comprising at least one wall portion surrounding a predetermined area of ​​the placement surface on which the object is placed.

7. A volatile substance removal device as described in Claim 6, wherein the wall portion is formed except for the portion facing the intake portion.

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