MOBILE AIR FILTRATION PATIENT ISOLATION SYSTEM, MOBILE AIR FILTRATION LABORATORY ISOLATION SYSTEM, AND MOBILE INDOOR AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM HAVING IMPROVED AIR FILTRATION UNIT

Abstract

A mobile air filtration isolation system and method of using the system, the system including a base, a frame extending upwardly from the base, an air filtration unit mounted to the frame, and at least one flexible curtain extending downwardly from the air filtration unit to form an enclosure, the method can include positioning the enclosure around a patient's head and torso, and operating the air filtration unit to draw air from the enclosure.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] REFERENCE TO PRIOR PENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS This application is (i) a continuation of a pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 474,445 (Attorney Docket No. FIPAK-18CON3) filed on September 14, 2021 by FIPAK Research And Development Company, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENSURING AIR QUALITY IN A BUILDING, INCLUDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A WORKING DEVICE USING A HANDHELD UNIT HAVING SCANNING, NETWORKING, DISPLAY AND INPUT CAPABILITY”, which is further entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENSURING AIR QUALITY IN A BUILDING, INCLUDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A WORKING DEVICE USING A HANDHELD UNIT HAVING SCANNING, NETWORKING, DISPLAY AND INPUT CAPABILITY” by FIPAK Research And Development Company. No. 16 / 736,104, filed on January 7, 2020 by FIPAK Research And Development Company, which is further incorporated by reference in its entirety as a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 640,104, filed on July 3, 2017 by FIPAK Research And Development Company, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENSURING AIR QUALITY IN A BUILDING, INCLUDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A WORKING DEVICE USING A HANDHELD UNIT HAVING SCANNING, NETWORKING, DISPLAY AND INPUT CAPABILITY.”No. 14 / 635,206 (Attorney Docket No. FIPAK-18 CON), which is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 635,206, filed Mar. 2, 2015 by FIPAK Research And Development Company, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENSURING AIR QUALITY IN A BUILDING, INCLUDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A WORKING DEVICE USING A HANDHELD UNIT HAVING SCANNING, NETWORKING, DISPLAY AND INPUT CAPABILITY,” which is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser. ... (A) a continuation-in-part of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 281,416, filed May 19, 2014 by FIPAK Research And Development Company, Stephan Hauville et al., entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING AND ENSURING AIR QUALITY IN A BUILDING,” which in turn claims the benefit of prior U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 824,997, filed May 18, 2013 by FIPAK Research And Development Company, Stephan Hauville et al., entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AIR IN A LABORATORY BUILDING,” (Attorney Docket No. FIPAK-16 PROV); U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 635,206 further claims the benefit of (B) a prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 946,292, filed February 28, 2014 by FIPAK Research And Development Company and Stephan Hauville et al., entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AIR IN A LABORATORY BUILDING” (Attorney Docket No. FIPAK-18 PROV); This application further claims the benefit of (ii) the pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 163,238, filed March 19, 2021 by FIPAK Research And Development Company and Stephane Hauville et al., entitled "MOBILE AIR FILTERING PATIENT ISOLATION SYSTEM, MOBILE AIR-FILTERING BENCHTOP ISOLATION SYSTEM, AND MOBILE ROOM AIR-FILTERING SYSTEM, INCLUDING IMPROVED AIR FILTRATION UNIT" (Attorney Docket No. FIPAK-29 PROV).

[0002] The eight patent applications identified above are incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates generally to air filtration systems, and more particularly to a novel air filtering patient isolation system, a novel air filtering laboratory isolation system, and a novel indoor air filtration system, including an improved air filtration unit. [Background technology]

[0003] The world is currently in the midst of a global pandemic caused by the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This deadly and highly contagious virus is believed to spread primarily through the airborne person-to-person route. As a result, it is generally advisable to separate people infected with the virus from those who do not, whenever possible. Social distancing, the use of masks, and frequent hand disinfection have proven to be effective techniques to reduce the spread of the virus.

[0004] In many cases, patients affected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus must be hospitalized. This exposes a major problem, since infected patients pose a significant risk to healthcare workers, other patients, etc. At the same time, infected patients generally require significant care from healthcare workers and substantial access to highly advanced medical equipment, e.g., ventilators. Efforts have been made to isolate these infected patients in special sections of the hospital (e.g., negative pressure rooms where the room air is constantly cleaned), but these special sections of the hospital are usually located remotely from the point where the virus diagnosis is made (e.g., emergency rooms), and these special sections of the hospital have limited capacity. Thus, once a patient is diagnosed with the virus, he or she must first be transferred from where they were at the time of diagnosis (e.g., emergency rooms) to a special section of the hospital (e.g., negative pressure rooms), ideally with the patient in a full enclosure "suit" to prevent the spread of the virus during patient transfer. This makes patient transfer cumbersome and time-consuming under the best of conditions. Furthermore, this assumes that beds for infected patients are available in special sections of the hospital (e.g., negative pressure rooms), which is not the case in many cases, especially when the number of symptoms of the virus is at its peak. As a result, many patients have to be accommodated in non-isolated sections of the hospital (e.g., general rooms or wards). Unfortunately, this makes it very difficult to isolate infected patients from healthcare workers, non-infected patients, etc.

[0005] It is therefore desirable to provide an air filtering patient isolation system that can be easily deployed around ordinary hospital beds in general patient rooms or wards so that infected patients can be safely isolated from their surroundings, thereby protecting medical personnel, non-infectious patients, etc. Ideally, these air filtering patient isolation systems should be mobile so that they can be rapidly deployed throughout a hospital, and especially when hospitals are overwhelmed with infected patients.

[0006] In addition to the above, in many situations, patients may need to be treated with high-risk drugs that may become airborne and may even pose a risk to healthcare workers, other patients, etc. (if the high-risk drugs come into contact with healthcare workers, other patients, etc.).

[0007] It is therefore desirable to provide an air filtering patient isolation system that can be easily deployed around general hospital beds in general patient rooms or wards so that patients being treated with such high-risk drugs can be safely isolated from their surroundings, thereby protecting medical personnel, other patients, etc. from exposure to the high-risk drugs. Ideally, these air filtering patient isolation systems should be mobile so that they can be rapidly deployed throughout the hospital.

[0008] In addition to the above, in many situations, hazardous materials (e.g., chemicals, biologicals, etc.) must be handled by personnel. By way of example and not limitation, scientists frequently need to handle hazardous chemicals and / or biologicals in a laboratory environment. In this environment, it is common to provide an isolation chamber (e.g., a fume hood) in the laboratory that allows the hazardous materials to be handled in the fume hood. Such fume hoods typically include ducted and ductless fume hoods. Ducted fume hoods are expensive because they require a ductwork to be installed in the building, and further because they exhaust air from within the fume hood to the outside environment, which allows the "energy" contained in the cooling air to be wasted during the summer and the "energy" contained in the heated air to be wasted during the winter. Ductless fume hoods are more economical. This is because ductless ventilation hoods eliminate the need for ductwork and because they exhaust air from within the ventilation hood back to the laboratory (i.e., after appropriate treatment), thereby conserving the "energy" contained in the cooled air during the summer and the heated air during the winter. However, such ductless ventilation hoods also require a large investment, and they are tricky to move and require expertise to set up, making it difficult to quickly and easily provide additional isolation chambers on demand. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] It is therefore desirable to provide air filtering laboratory isolation systems that can be easily deployed within a laboratory so that the benchtop can be safely isolated from its surroundings, thereby protecting laboratory personnel from harmful substances (e.g., chemicals, biologicals, etc.) Ideally, these air filtering laboratory isolation systems should be mobile so that they can be rapidly deployed throughout a laboratory or building, and especially when needed to quickly and easily provide additional isolation chambers upon demand.

[0010] In addition to the above, in many situations it may be desirable to provide filtration for indoor air. By way of example and not limitation, in the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, proper filtration of indoor air can help minimize person-to-person transmission of the virus. As a further example and not by way of limitation, where hazardous materials (e.g., chemicals, biologicals, etc.) must be handled indoors, proper filtration of indoor air can minimize hazards to individuals present in the room.

[0011] It is therefore desirable to provide indoor air filtration systems that can be easily deployed indoors to improve the safety of individuals in the indoor space, such as to reduce the individual's risk from contagious viruses or to reduce the individual's risk from harmful substances (e.g., chemicals, biologicals, etc.) that may be present in the indoor space. Ideally, these indoor air filtration systems should be mobile so that they can be rapidly deployed throughout a building, and especially when it is necessary to quickly and easily provide additional indoor air filtration capacity upon demand.

[0012] In addition to the above, it would be desirable to provide improved air filtration units having increased effectiveness for protecting people against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as other harmful viruses, microorganisms, etc. Ideally, these improved air filtration units should be configured for use in air filtration patient isolation systems, air filtration laboratory isolation systems, indoor air filtration systems, and other air filtration systems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The present invention involves the provision and use of a novel air filtration patient isolation system that can be easily deployed around general hospital beds in general patient rooms or wards to allow for the safe isolation of infected patients from their surroundings, thereby protecting medical personnel, non-infectious patients, and the like.

[0014] The present invention further includes the provision and use of a novel air filtration patient isolation system that can be easily deployed around standard hospital beds in standard rooms or wards to allow patients being treated with high-risk drugs to be safely isolated from their surroundings for the purpose of protecting medical personnel, other patients, and the like from exposure to the high-risk drugs.

[0015] The present invention further includes the provision and use of a novel air filtration laboratory isolation system that can be easily deployed within a laboratory to allow for safe isolation of a benchtop from its surroundings for the purpose of protecting laboratory personnel from harmful substances (e.g., chemicals, biologicals, etc.).

[0016] The present invention further includes the provision and use of novel indoor air filtration systems that can be easily deployed in a room to improve the safety of individuals in the room, such as to reduce an individual's risk from a contagious virus or to reduce an individual's risk from harmful substances (e.g., chemicals, biologicals, etc.) that may be present in the room.

[0017] The present invention further includes the provision and use of improved air filtration units having increased effectiveness for protecting people against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other harmful viruses, microorganisms, etc.

[0018] In one preferred form of the present invention, a mobile air filtration and isolation system is provided, the system comprising: A base and a frame extending upward from a base; an air filtration unit attached to the frame; at least one flexible curtain extending downwardly from the air filtration unit to form an enclosure; Equipped with.

[0019] In another preferred form of the present invention, there is provided a mobile air filtration isolation system for isolating a patient, the system comprising: A base and a frame extending upward from a base; an air filtration unit attached to the frame; at least one flexible curtain extending downwardly from the air filtering unit to form an enclosure around the patient's head and torso; Equipped with.

[0020] In another preferred form of the invention, there is provided an air filtration unit for drawing air from a room, purifying the drawn air, and then returning the purified air to the room, the air filtration unit comprising a housing, the housing comprising: an air inlet formed in the housing; an air outlet formed in the housing; a passageway extending through the housing connecting an air inlet to an air outlet; a filter disposed in the passage for purifying air within the passage; an intake fan disposed within the passageway for drawing air from the room through a filter into the air inlet and for expelling air through the air outlet into the room; an ultraviolet (UV) light source to sterilize the filters; Equipped with.

[0021] In another preferred form of the present invention there is provided a method for isolating a patient, the method comprising: Providing a mobile air filtration isolation system for isolating a patient in a room, the system comprising: base, a frame extending upwardly from the base; an air filtration unit mounted to the frame; at least one flexible curtain extending downwardly from the air filtering unit to form an enclosure around the patient's head and torso; providing a mobile air filtration and isolation system comprising: placing an enclosure around the patient's head and torso; operating an air filtration unit to draw air from the enclosure, purify the drawn air, and return the purified air to the room; Includes.

[0022] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for sanitizing a room, the method comprising: Providing an air filtration unit comprising a housing, the housing comprising: an air inlet formed in the housing; an air outlet formed in the housing; a passageway extending through said housing connecting an air inlet to an air outlet; a filter disposed in the passageway for purifying air within the passageway; an intake fan disposed within the passageway for drawing air from the room through a filter to an air inlet and for expelling air through an air outlet to the room; and an ultraviolet (UV) light source to sterilize filters; providing an air filtration unit comprising: operating an air filtration unit to draw air from the room, purify the drawn air, and return the purified air to the room; Includes.

[0023] These and other objects and features of the present invention will be more fully disclosed or will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts and in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "cart-based" mobile air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "cart-based" mobile air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "cart-based" mobile air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "cart-based" mobile air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "cart-based" mobile air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "cart-based" mobile air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 6A] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a novel air filtration unit formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "wheeled" mobile air filtration and isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "wheeled" mobile air filtration and isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 9]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "wheeled" mobile air filtration and isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 9A] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "swivel-type" mobile air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 9B] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "swivel-type" mobile air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 9C] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "swivel-type" mobile air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 9D] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "swivel-type" mobile air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 9E] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "swivel" and "foldable" portable air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 9F] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "swivel" and "foldable" portable air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 9G] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "swivel" and "foldable" portable air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 9H] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "swivel" and "foldable" portable air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 9I] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "swivel" and "foldable" portable air filtration patient isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "wheeled" mobile air filtration laboratory isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "wheeled" mobile air filtration laboratory isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "wheeled" mobile air filtration laboratory isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 13]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "wheeled" mobile air filtration laboratory isolation system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "wheeled" mobile air filtration system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "wheeled" mobile air filtration system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "wheeled" mobile air filtration system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a novel "wheeled" mobile air filtration system formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 18] 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating another novel air filtration unit embodiment formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 19] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for controlling an air filtration unit formed in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 20] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for controlling an air filtration unit formed in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The present invention provides a new and improved air filtration system. More specifically, in one form of the present invention, a new and improved air filtering patient isolation system is provided that may be easily deployed around a general hospital bed in a general patient room or ward so that an infectious patient may be safely isolated from his or her surroundings, thereby protecting medical personnel, non-infectious patients, etc. The air filtering patient isolation system is preferably mobile so that it may be rapidly deployed throughout a hospital, and particularly when hospitals are overwhelmed with infectious patients.

[0026] In addition to the above, the air filtering patient isolation system of the present invention may be easily deployed around standard hospital beds in standard rooms or wards, so that patients being treated with high-risk medications may be safely isolated from their surroundings, thereby protecting medical personnel, other patients, etc. from exposure to the high-risk medications. This air filtering patient isolation system is likewise preferably mobile so that it may be rapidly deployed throughout the hospital.

[0027] In one form of the present invention, a new and improved air filtering laboratory isolation system is provided that may be easily deployed within a laboratory so that a bench top (i.e., work surface or laboratory table) may be safely isolated from its surroundings, thereby protecting laboratory personnel from harmful substances (e.g., chemicals, biological agents, etc.) The air filtering laboratory isolation system is preferably mobile so that it may be rapidly deployed throughout the laboratory, and especially when needed to quickly and easily provide additional isolation chambers upon demand.

[0028] In one form of the present invention, a new and improved indoor air filtration system is provided that may be easily deployed in a room to improve the safety of individuals in the room, such as to reduce the individual's risk from a contagious virus or to reduce the individual's risk from harmful substances (e.g., chemicals, biologicals, etc.) that may be present in the room. The indoor air filtration system is preferably mobile so that it may be rapidly deployed throughout a building, and particularly when it is necessary to quickly and easily provide additional indoor air filtration capacity on demand.

[0029] In one aspect of the present invention, an improved air filtration unit is provided having improved effectiveness for protecting people against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other harmful viruses, microorganisms, etc. The improved air filtration unit is configured for use in air filtration patient isolation systems, air filtration laboratory isolation systems, indoor air filtration systems, and other air filtration systems.

[0030] 1. Mobile Air Filtration Patient Isolation System 1.1 "Cart-mounted" Mobile Air Filtration Patient Isolation System In one form of the invention, and now referring to Figures 1-3 and 4-6, a novel "cart-mounted" portable (i.e., mobile) air filtering patient isolation system 5 is provided. The "cart-mounted" portable air filtering patient isolation system 5 essentially creates a "personal negative pressure chamber" for the patient at the patient's bedside while the patient remains in his or her bed 7. It should be noted that the bed 7 may be a fixed position patient bed, a patient bed on wheels, a gurney, etc., and that the bed 7 may be located in a general hospital room or ward, a field hospital, the patient's home, etc.

[0031] The "cart-based" mobile air filtration patient isolation system 5 generally comprises: 10 mobile carts; A frame 15 extending upward from the mobile cart 10; a flexible transparent curtain 20 depending from the frame 15 to form, with elements of the frame 15 (see below), an enclosure 25 around the patient's head and torso; an air filtration unit 30 for drawing air from within the enclosure 25, purifying the drawn air, and then returning the purified air to the room; one or more tubes 35 for connecting the air filtration unit 30 to the interior of the enclosure 25; Equipped with.

[0032] 1.2 Mobile Cart 10 The mobile cart 10 provides mobility for the system 5. The mobile cart 10 generally comprises a rectangular base 40 formed by one or more legs 45, and wheels 50 mounted to the bottom of the rectangular base 40 to enable the mobile cart 10 (and the remainder of the system 5) to be swiveled on a floor.

[0033] The rectangular base 40 can have a fixed configuration that is larger than the footprint of the air filtration unit 30 (see Figures 1-3), the rectangular base 40 can have a fixed configuration that is substantially the same size as the footprint of the air filtration unit 30 (see Figures 4-6), the rectangular base 40 can have a fixed configuration of another size, or the rectangular base 40 can have a variable configuration, where two or more of the legs 45 can telescope to expand or contract their length (and thereby change the configuration of the rectangular base 40).

[0034] The wheels 50 allow the system 5 to be moved to a position adjacent the patient's bed. The wheels 50 may be selectively lockable to maintain the system 5 in a fixed position adjacent the patient's bed, e.g., to prevent the system 5 from moving when it is inadvertently moved by a medical professional or grasped by a patient, etc. Alternatively, the base 40 may be securable to the bed (e.g., by a mechanical connector, not shown) to maintain the system 5 in a fixed position adjacent the patient's bed, e.g., to prevent the system 5 from moving when it is inadvertently moved by a medical professional or grasped by a patient, etc.

[0035] It should be noted that mobile cart 10 (and the remainder of system 5) is preferably configured to allow access to a patient's bed, such as from the side of the bed (see FIGS. 1-3) or from the head of the bed (see FIGS. 4-6). It should also be noted that in both configurations of system 5 (i.e., the configuration of FIGS. 1-3 and the configuration of FIGS. 4-6), portions of mobile cart 10 are designed to fit under bed 7, whereas other portions of mobile cart 10 and air filtration unit 30 may not be positionable under bed 7.

[0036] 1.3 Frame 15 A frame 15 extends upwardly from the mobile cart 10 and supports a flexible transparent curtain 20 to form, together with elements of the frame 15 (see below), an enclosure 25 around the patient's head and torso. The frame 15 includes a vertical riser 55 mounted to the rectangular base 40 of the mobile cart 10 and a top support 60 set atop the vertical riser 55. The flexible transparent curtain 20 depends from the top support 60.

[0037] The vertical riser 55 preferably telescopes upwardly and downwardly to allow for adjustment of the height of the top support 60. The vertical riser 55 preferably can rotate about its axis to allow for alignment of the top support 60 with the footprint of the mobile cart 10 (e.g., to reduce the footprint of the system 5 during transport, as shown in FIGS. 1-3) or to allow for the top support 60 to extend to one side of the mobile cart 10 (e.g., when positioning the system 5 around a patient's bed, as shown in FIGS. 4-6). The vertical riser 55 can be located midway along one side of the rectangular base 40 of the mobile cart 10 (see, e.g., FIGS. 1-3 and 4-6), or the vertical riser 55 can be located at one corner of the rectangular base 40 of the mobile cart 10 (not shown in FIGS. 1-3 or 4-6), etc.

[0038] A top support 60 provides support for the flexible transparent curtain 20 which hangs around the patient's head and torso, as well as providing elements (see below) which function with the flexible transparent curtain 20 to integrally form an enclosure 25 around the patient's head and torso. More specifically, in one form of the invention, the top support 60 includes a top frame 65 which carries a transparent top 70. The top frame 65, transparent top 70, and flexible transparent curtain 20 together form the enclosure 25. One or more tubes 35 lead to the interior of the enclosure 25 through openings formed in the transparent top 70. The top frame 65 can have a fixed configuration (in which case the transparent top 70 can be a substantially rigid transparent panel or a flexible transparent sheet) or the top frame 65 can have an adjustable configuration, such as, for example, a telescoping metal frame (in which case the transparent top 70 preferably comprises a flexible transparent canopy that can adjustably span the interior of the top frame 65 to close off the interior of the top frame 65). If the top frame 65 has an adjustable configuration, the flexible transparent curtain 20 (hanging from the top frame 65) and the transparent top 70 can have a "shower curtain" configuration, such that the flexible transparent curtain 20 and the transparent top 70 can be adjusted to fit the variable configuration of the top frame 65 and still provide a substantially complete enclosure 25.

[0039] 1.4 Flexible transparent curtains 20 A flexible transparent curtain 20 is attached to the top frame 65 of the frame 15 and, together with a transparent top 70 , forms a complete enclosure 25 . The flexible transparent curtain 20 may be made of soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (e.g., "Eisenglas"). The flexible transparent curtain 20 may be constructed from one sheet on each side (or each edge) of the top frame 65 (as shown in FIGS. 1-3), or the flexible transparent curtain 20 may be constructed from multiple sheets on each side (e.g., each edge) of the top frame 65 (e.g., to make it easier for a healthcare worker's hands to pass through the curtain).

[0040] 1.5 Air Filtration Unit 30 An air filtration unit 30 is provided for drawing air from within the enclosure 25, purifying the drawn air, and then returning the purified air into the room. For this purpose, referring now to FIG. 6A, the air filtration unit 30 is connected to the enclosure 25 via one or more tubes 35, and comprises an intake fan 75, a filter 80, and control electronics 85 for driving the intake fan 75. The intake fan 75 draws air out of the enclosure 25 via the one or more tubes 35, creating a negative pressure in the enclosure 25 during this process, thereby ensuring that the air in the enclosure 25 does not pass through the flexible transparent curtain 20 into the room. At the same time, the flexible transparent curtain 20 allows room air to pass through the gaps between the curtain to replenish the air drawn from the enclosure 25 via the air filtration unit 30 and the one or more tubes 35. Intake fan 75 draws air out of enclosure 25, into chamber (or plenum) 90 and then through filter 80, which purifies the air from enclosure 25. Thus, it will be appreciated that only air leaving enclosure 25 passes through filter 80 before the air is returned into the room.

[0041] The filter 80 of the air filtration unit 30 is configured according to the particular application in which the air filtration unit 30 is to be used, such as, for example, a patient isolation system, and may be a so-called High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter or a so-called Ultra Low Particulate Air (ULPA) filter for capturing harmful droplets and / or particles, so that the air returned to the room by the air filtration unit 30 is purified of harmful contaminants, such as, for example, harmful viruses, fine particles, etc. Alternatively, the filter 80 may include a molecular filter for specific drugs, etc. By way of non-limiting example, the filter 80 may include a HEPA filter of the type available from Erlab DFSSAS ("Erlab") (e.g., Erlab HEPA H14 high-efficiency particulate filter) or the filter 80 may include a molecular filter of the type available from Erlab (e.g., Erlab BE+, BE, AS, F, K, and / or G filters).

[0042] The air filtration unit 30 may be powered, for example, by a battery, so that there are no power cords to trip over. A battery-powered air filtration unit 30 also allows the system to be used even when there is no readily available wall outlet.

[0043] Additionally, the air filtration unit 30 may be wirelessly connected to a "remote" monitoring and / or control system, such as a hospital monitoring and control system, or may be wirelessly connected to a smart phone or tablet, or the like.

[0044] The air filtration unit 30 may further be equipped with lights (i.e., lights) 95 and / or an audio unit 100 for communicating system status to medical personnel, such as a steady green light to indicate proper system function, a flashing red light to indicate a system warning or alert, or an alarm noise to indicate a system warning or alert.

[0045] 1.6 One or more tubes 35 One or more tubes 35 are provided to connect the air filtration unit 30 to the interior of the enclosure 25 so that the air filtration unit 30 can draw air from the interior of the enclosure 25, filter this air, and then return the filtered air to the room.

[0046] The tube 35 may be formed from a flexible hose or a rigid tube. However, it is important that the tube 35 be constructed to allow it to accommodate movement (upward or downward and / or rotational movement) of the frame 15 around the patient's bedside. Thus, if the tube 35 is formed from a rigid tube, it is preferably configured to allow it to extend or retract upward or downward with the movement of the frame 15. Furthermore, if the tube 35 is formed from a rigid tube, it is preferably configured to allow it to rotate with the rotation of the frame 15.

[0047] 1.7 Use of Examples The "cart-mounted" mobile air filtration patient isolation system 5 may be used as follows: the system 5 is swiveled on its wheels 50 to be positioned adjacent to the patient's bed, and then the frame 15 is adjusted so that the flexible transparent curtain 20 together with the transparent top 70 will form an enclosure 25 around the patient's head and torso. The air filtration unit 30 is then activated to draw air from within the enclosure 25 and purify it through the filter 80, before returning the purified air to the room. It should be noted that during operation of the system 5, the system 5 essentially creates a "personal negative pressure chamber" around the patient's head and torso at the patient's bedside while the patient remains in his or her bed. As a result, medical personnel, other patients, etc. may be isolated from the patient in the enclosure 25 and may even be protected against certain drugs that may be present in the enclosure 25.

[0048] 1.8 "On Wheels" Mobile Air Filtering Patient Isolation System In another aspect of the present invention, and referring now to Figures 7-9, a novel "wheeled" mobile air filtering patient isolation system 5A is provided. The "wheeled" mobile air filtering patient isolation system 5A is generally similar in form and function to the "cart mounted" mobile air filtering patient isolation system 5 referenced above, except as follows: (i) the mobile cart 10 is eliminated and the wheels 50 are attached directly to the bottom of the air filtration unit 30; (ii) the frame 15 is attached directly to the air filtration unit 30; (iii) The vertical riser 55 and the one or more tubes 35 are combined into a single structure, for example, the vertical riser 55 has a hollow structure and the one or more tubes 35 extend within (or are provided as) the interior of the hollow vertical riser. It should be noted that if desired, hollow vertical riser 55 can comprise multiple rigid tubes connected together with articulating joints, as shown in FIGS.

[0049] 1.9 "Rolling" Mobile Air Filtering Patient Isolation Systems In another aspect of the present invention, and referring now to Figures 9A-9D, a novel "swivel-type" mobile air filtering patient isolation system 5B is provided. The "swivel-type" mobile air filtering patient isolation system 5B is generally similar in form and function to the "cart-based" mobile air filtering patient isolation system 5 referenced above, with the following exceptions: (i) one or more tubes 35 and transparent top 70 are eliminated; (ii) the air filtration unit 30 is attached to the top support 65 and closes the top support 65 so that the air filtration unit 30 is in direct contact with the air within the enclosure 25 .

[0050] 1.10 "Swivel" and "Foldable" Portable Air Filtering Patient Isolation Systems In another aspect of the present invention, and referring now to Figures 9E-9I, a novel "swivel" and "foldable" mobile air filtering patient isolation system 5BF is provided. The "swivel" and "foldable" mobile air filtering patient isolation system 5BF is generally similar in form and function to the "cart-based" mobile air filtering patient isolation system 5 referenced above, with the following exceptions: (i) one or more tubes 35 and transparent top 70 are eliminated; (ii) air filtration unit 30 is attached to top support 65 and closes top support 65 so that air filtration unit 30 is in direct contact with the air within enclosure 25; (iii) At least a portion of the frame 15 can be transformed between an upright position (FIGS. 9E, 9F, 9H, and 9I) and a folded position (FIG. 9G).

[0051] More specifically, referring now to Figures 9E-9I, the "swivelable" and "foldable" mobile air filtration patient isolation system 5BF generally comprises a mobile cart 10, a frame 15 extending upwardly from the mobile cart 10, an air filtration unit 30 mounted to the frame 15, and a flexible transparent curtain 20 depending from the air filtration unit 30 to form an enclosure 25 around the patient's head and torso.

[0052] The mobile cart 10 generally comprises a base 40 formed by one or more legs 45 and wheels 50 attached to the base 40 for enabling the mobile cart 10 (and the remainder of the system 5BF) to be rotated on a floor.

[0053] Frame 15 preferably includes at least one vertical riser 55 (attached at its bottom end to base 40 of mobile cart 10) and a top frame 65. Air filtration unit 30 is attached to and closes top support 65 such that air filtration unit 30 is in direct contact with the air within enclosure 25. Flexible curtain 20 depends from air filtration unit 30.

[0054] Vertical risers 55 preferably telescope upwardly and downwardly to allow for adjustment of the height of top frame 65 (and air filtration unit 30). It will be appreciated that because vertical risers 55 are vertically adjustable, system 5BF can accommodate a wide range of existing objects without having to modify the object in any manner.

[0055] A hinge 56 connects the vertical riser 55 to the top frame 65 such that the top frame 65 (and thus the air filtration unit 30 attached to the top frame 65) can be selectively pivoted from an upright position to a folded position. A second hinge 57 connects the vertical riser 55 to the base 40 such that the base 40 can be selectively pivoted from a vertical position to a folded position. See Figures 9E, 9F, 9H, and 9I, which show the top frame 65 and base 40 in their vertical positions (positions for providing an enclosure for a patient), and Figure 9G, which shows the top frame 65 and base 40 in a folded position for storage. The top frame 65 and / or base 40 can be configured to be opened or folded manually or electrically, in a manner that will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

[0056] The flexible transparent curtain 20 is preferably attached to the lower border of the air filtration unit 30 by a type of fastener that allows the flexible transparent curtain 20 to be attached to the air filtration unit 30 in a releasable manner, such that the flexible transparent curtain 20 can be attached to the air filtration unit 30 when the system 5BF is in its upright position, and can be removed from the air filtration unit 30 when the system 5BF is in its folded position. By way of example and not limitation, the flexible transparent curtain 20 can be attached to the air filtration unit 30 using hooks, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, screws, magnets, or any other type of fastener that allows the curtain 20 to be attached to the air filtration unit 30 in a releasable manner.

[0057] If desired, the "swivel-type" mobile air filtering patient isolation system 5BF may include a storage container (not shown) for storing one or more curtains 20 when the system 5BF is not in use. By way of example and not limitation, such storage container may be in the form of a box attached to the frame 15 (e.g., vertical riser 55), a tube attached to the frame 15, a pouch attached to the frame 15, etc.

[0058] 9E, if desired, the "swivelable" and "foldable" mobile air filtration patient isolation system 5BF can include a battery 58 to provide power to operate the air filtration unit 30. More specifically, if desired, the battery 58 can be mounted to one or more legs 45 of the base 40 and electrically connected to the air filtration unit 30 (e.g., via cables extending through the vertical riser 55 or via other cables as will become apparent to those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure). Importantly, mounting the battery 58 to one or more legs 45 of the base 40 provides a counterweight to add additional stability to the system 5BF.

[0059] In one preferred form of the invention, system 5BF further includes a retractable electrical cable connection 59 for connecting system 5 to an external power source (e.g., a wall outlet) for powering air filtration unit 30 and / or charging battery 58.

[0060] The "swivel" and "foldable" mobile air filtration patient isolation system 5BF may be used as follows: The base 40 may be pivoted from its folded (storage) position to its upright position to place the wheels 50 on the floor. The system 5BF may be pivoted on its wheels 50 to place the system 5BF adjacent to the patient's bed. The top frame 65 (and air filtration unit 30) may then be pivoted from its folded (storage) position to its upright position and the vertical riser 55 may be adjusted vertically to place the air filtration unit 30 over the patient's head and torso. The flexible transparent curtain 20 may then be attached to the air filtration unit 30 to form an enclosure 25 around the patient's head and torso. The air filtration unit 30 may then be activated to draw air from within the enclosure 25 and purify it through the filter 80, before returning the purified air to the room. It should be noted that during operation of system 5BF, system 5BF effectively creates a "personal negative pressure chamber" around the patient's head and torso at the patient's bedside while the patient remains in his or her bed. As a result, medical personnel, other patients, etc. may be isolated from the patient within enclosure 25 and may also be protected from certain medications that may be present within enclosure 25. When system 5BF is no longer needed in its upright position, system 5BF may be returned to its folded position and placed in storage (e.g., a closet, a vehicle, etc.).

[0061] 1.11 "Bed-mounted", "Wall-mounted", or "Freestanding" Air Filtering Patient Isolation Systems In the above description, system 5 includes mobile cart 10 and wheels 50 for making system 5 mobile, system 5A includes wheels 50 for making system 5A mobile, system 5B includes mobile cart 10 and wheels 50 for making system 5B mobile, and system 5BF includes mobile cart 10 and wheels 50 for making system 5BF mobile, and a foldable frame for storing system 5BF. However, if desired, mobile cart 10 and wheels 50 may be removed from system 5, wheels 50 may be removed from system 5A, mobile cart 10 and wheels 50 may be removed from system 5B, and / or mobile cart 10 and wheels 50 may be removed from system 5BF, in which case systems 5, 5A, 5B and / or 5BF are provided as stationary systems. More specifically, frame 15 of system 5, 5A, 5B, and / or 5BF may be mounted to the frame of the patient's bed (i.e., system 5, 5A, 5B, and / or 5BF may be "bed mounted"), frame 15 of system 5, 5A, 5B, and / or 5BF may be mounted to a wall adjacent to the patient's bed (i.e., system 5, 5A, 5B, and / or 5BF may be "wall mounted"), or frame 15 of system 5, 5A, 5B, and / or 5BF may be freestanding adjacent to the patient's bed (i.e., system 5, 5A, 5B, and / or 5BF may be "freestanding" and system 5BF may be "freestanding" and "foldable").

[0062] 2. Mobile Air Filtration Laboratory Isolation System In another aspect of the present invention, and referring now to Figures 10-13, a novel Mobile Air Filtering Laboratory Isolation System 5C is provided. The Mobile Air Filtering Laboratory Isolation System 5C essentially creates a ductless ventilation hood around the bench top 105. The Mobile Air Filtering Laboratory Isolation System 5C is generally similar in form and function to the previously described "wheeled" Mobile Air Filtering Patient Isolation Systems 5A, 5B, 5BF, with the following exceptions: (i) A mobile air filtration laboratory isolation system 5C is used to create an isolation zone around the benchtop 105; (ii) the filter 80 is configured to handle hazardous materials (eg, toxic materials, chemicals, biologicals, etc.) of the type that may be used on a benchtop;

[0063] Thus, in this form of the invention, molecular filters for handling specific chemicals (e.g., acid filters, solvent filters, etc.) may be used, or alternatively, HEPA or ULPA filters (filters for protecting against specific biological agents such as viruses and microorganisms) may be used. By way of non-limiting example, filter 80 may include a molecular filter of the type available from Erlab (e.g., Erlab BE+, BE, AS, F, K, and / or G filters), a HEPA filter of the type available from Erlab (e.g., Erlab HEPA H14 high efficiency particulate filter), or a multi-stage filter capable of simultaneously handling many different chemical families such as solvents, acids, and solvents, such as, for example, Erlab's Neutrodine® filters.

[0064] It should be noted that, if desired, it is also possible to deploy the above-referenced system 5 around a benchtop to form a mobile air filtration laboratory isolation system, to deploy the above-referenced system 5B around a benchtop to form a mobile air filtration laboratory isolation system, and / or to deploy the above-referenced system 5BF around a benchtop to form a mobile (and "foldable") air filtration laboratory isolation system.

[0065] 2.1 Bench-top, wall-mounted, or free-standing air-filtering laboratory isolation systems In the above description, system 5C includes wheels 50 attached to the bottom of air filtration unit 30 to make system 5C mobile, system 5 includes mobile cart 10 with wheels 50 to make system 5 mobile, system 5B includes mobile cart 10 with wheels 50 to make system 5B mobile, and system 5BF includes mobile cart 10, wheels 50 to make system 5B mobile, and a foldable frame for storing system 5BF. However, if desired, wheels 50 can be removed from system 5C, mobile cart 10 and wheels 50 can be removed from system 5, mobile cart 10 and wheels 50 can be removed from system 5B, and / or mobile cart 10 and wheels 50 can be removed from system 5BF, in which case systems 5C, 5, 5B, and / or 5BF are provided as stationary systems. More specifically, the air filtration unit 30 of system 5C and the frame 15 of systems 5, 5B, and / or 5BF may be mounted to a frame on a benchtop (i.e., systems 5C, 5, 5B, and / or 5BF may be "benchtop mounted"), the air filtration unit 30 of system 5C and / or the frame 15 of systems 5, 5B, and / or 5BF may be mounted to a wall adjacent to a benchtop (i.e., systems 5C, 5, 5B, and / or 5BF may be "wall mounted"), or the air filtration unit 30 of system 5C and / or the frame 15 of systems 5, 5B, and / or 5BF may be freestanding adjacent to a benchtop (i.e., systems 5C, 5, and / or 5B may be "freestanding" and system 5BF may be "freestanding" and "foldable").

[0066] 3. Portable Indoor Air Filtration Systems In one form of the invention, and referring now to Figures 14-17, a novel mobile indoor air filtration system 5D is provided. Mobile indoor air filtration system 5D substantially comprises wheeled air filtration unit 30 of Figures 7-9, 9A-9D, 9E-9I, and / or 10-13, with inlet orifice 110 of wheeled air filtration unit 30 open to indoor air.

[0067] In a preferred method of use, the mobile indoor air filtration system 5D is driven into a room and then turned on, so that the mobile indoor air filtration system 5D circulates indoor air through the filter 80 and then returns the filtered air to the room. In this form of the invention, the filter 80 is configured according to the desired function, for example, if the indoor air filtration system is used to protect against viruses (e.g., the SARS-CoV-2 virus), microorganisms, and other biological agents, etc., the filter 80 can include a HEPA filter or ULPA filter of the type available from Erlab (e.g., Erlab HEPA H14 high efficiency particle filter), or if the indoor air filtration system 5D is used to protect against certain chemicals, the filter 80 can include a molecular filter of the type available from Erlab (e.g., Erlab BE+, BE, AS, F, K, and / or G filters), or a multi-stage filter capable of simultaneously handling many different chemical families, such as solvents, acids, and solvents, such as, for example, Erlab's Neutrodine® filter.

[0068] 3.1 "Ceiling-mounted", "Wall-mounted" or "Freestanding" Indoor Air Filtration Systems In the above description, system 5D includes wheels 50 attached to the bottom of air filtration unit 30 to allow system 5D to be mobile. However, wheels 50 may be omitted from system 5D if desired. In this case, system 5D may be mounted on a ceiling (i.e., system 5D may be "ceiling mounted"), system 5D may be mounted on a wall (i.e., system 5D may be "wall mounted"), or system 5D may be freestanding (i.e., system 5D may be "freestanding").

[0069] 4. Improved air filtration unit In one form of the invention, an improved air filtration unit is provided having increased effectiveness for protecting people against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other harmful viruses, microorganisms, etc. The improved air filtration unit is configured for use in air filtration patient isolation systems, such as Systems 5, 5A, 5B, and 5BF discussed above, air filtration laboratory isolation systems, such as System 5C discussed above, indoor air filtration systems, such as System 5D discussed above, as well as other air filtration systems.

[0070] More specifically, HEPA or ULPA filters, as discussed above in connection with air filtration unit 30 and as used in many air filtration applications, are very effective at capturing particles, viruses, microorganisms, and the like. However, with respect to viruses and microorganisms, these HEPA and ULPA filters do not actually destroy the viruses and microorganisms, but merely collect the viruses and microorganisms in front of the HEPA or ULPA filter. As a result, the viruses and microorganisms remain in front of the filter, thereby presenting a risk of contamination of some area if air pressure is not continuously applied to the HEPA or ULPA filter to keep the viruses and microorganisms engaged in front of the HEPA or ULPA filter. Thus, if the intake fan 75 of the air filtration unit 30 fails (e.g., due to a power outage), the air pressure generated by the intake fan 75 may cause the viruses and microorganisms already captured in front of the fan to be released from the front of the HEPA or ULPA filter, contaminating the area around the air filtration unit 30. Additionally, viruses and microorganisms that lodge on the front surface of the HEPA or ULPA filter can pose a hazard to maintenance personnel when replacing a used HEPA or ULPA filter with a new HEPA or ULPA filter.

[0071] It is known that ultraviolet (UV) radiation can destroy airborne viruses and microorganisms. As a result, attempts have been made to expose air to UV radiation to kill airborne viruses and microorganisms. However, it has been found that effective UV treatment requires exposing the viruses and microorganisms to UV radiation for a significant period of time. As a result, the air to be treated must either (i) be kept motionless in a chamber for an extended period of time while being treated with a sufficient UV dose, or (ii) be irradiated over a long travel distance in order for the moving air to receive a sufficient UV dose. In some cases, it is not practical to hold the air in a chamber for an extended period of time, and in other cases, it is not practical to irradiate the air over a long travel distance. As a result, UV radiation has had limited success to date.

[0072] In accordance with the present invention, an improved air filtration unit is provided that combines HPEA and ULPA filters with a UV light source to overcome problems associated with prior art air filtration units, and is configured for use in air filtration patient isolation systems, such as Systems 5, 5A, 5B, and 5BF discussed above, air filtration laboratory isolation systems, such as System 5C discussed above, indoor air filtration systems, such as System 5D discussed above, as well as other air filtration systems.

[0073] 18, an improved air filtration unit 30A formed in accordance with the present invention is shown. Air filtration unit 30A is generally similar to air filtration unit 30 discussed above, except that air filtration unit 30A has a UV radiation source 115 having its UV radiation directed toward the front face of HEPA or ULPA filter 80. In one form of the present invention, UV radiation source 115 emits UV radiation at a wavelength of 264 nm. As a result of this configuration, as intake fan 75 draws air through HEPA or ULPA filter 80, viruses and microorganisms in the air are captured at front face 120 of the HEPA or ULPA filter and are retained at the HEPA or ULPA filter by the air pressure provided by intake fan 75. The UV radiation from UV radiation source 115 impinges on viruses or microorganisms that are held in front of the HEPA or ULPA filter by the action of intake fan 75, and the UV radiation from UV radiation source 115 renders the viruses and microorganisms harmless because the viruses and microorganisms are held in front of the HEPA or ULPA filter for a significant period of time.

[0074] Thus, by using this new approach, the HEPA or ULPA filter and UV radiation are synergistically combined, so that the benefits of the HEPA or ULPA filter (which can effectively trap but not disinfect) and the benefits of UV radiation (which can effectively disinfect but requires extended exposure) can be obtained without their individual disadvantages (the HEPA or ULPA filter traps viruses and microorganisms in front of the filter and holds them in front of the filter while allowing the UV radiation from the UV radiation source time to render them harmless). In essence, the HEPA or ULPA filter traps and holds the viruses and microorganisms in place while the effective but slow-acting UV radiation renders them harmless. Thus, the HEPA or ULPA filter and the UV radiation source work together synergistically to achieve improved results that neither of the components could achieve individually by themselves.

[0075] It will be appreciated that the improved air filtration unit 30A of the present invention may be used in air filtration patient isolation systems, such as systems 5, 5A, 5B, and 5BF discussed above, air filtration laboratory isolation systems, such as system 5C discussed above, indoor air filtration systems, such as system 5D discussed above, as well as other air filtration systems.

[0076] If desired, the improved air filtration system 30A can further include (i) a sensor 125 for detecting particles in the air (as viruses and particulates tend to attach themselves to particles), (ii) a sensor 130 for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air, and / or (iii) a carbon dioxide sensor for monitoring the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, thereby determining whether the air filtration system 30A needs to be automatically turned on to provide enhanced air filtration in the room.

[0077] In one preferred form of the invention, air filtration system 30A has one or more sensors for monitoring the proper functioning of the operating components of air filtration system 30A (e.g., intake fan 75, filter 80, etc.), which sensors are preferably connected (e.g., by wired or wireless communication) to a monitoring system for activating an alarm (e.g., an audible alarm and / or a light-based visual alarm) if the proper functioning of the operating components (e.g., intake fan 75, filter 80, etc.) is interrupted.

[0078] Additionally, if desired, the filter 80 can have a timer to indicate when the filter 80 needs to be changed.

[0079] Method and apparatus for controlling an air filtration unit using a handheld unit having scanning, networking, display and input capabilities - Patents.com In the above sections, novel mobile air filtration patient isolation systems 5, 5A, 5B, 5BF, 5C, 5D are disclosed that utilize an air filtration unit 30 or 30A for filtering an enclosed volume of air located above an object (e.g., a patient resting on a hospital bed, laboratory table, etc.) to remove harmful contaminants (e.g., viruses, microorganisms, chemicals, etc.) from the volume of air.

[0080] 19, in one form of the invention, the air filtration unit 30, 30A may be provided with an on-board display screen 135 for displaying information regarding the air filtration unit 30, 30A (e.g., on / off status of the intake fan 75, high / medium / low operating speed of the intake fan 75, functional / non-functional status of the filter 80, remaining useful life of the filter 80, etc.). The on-board display screen 135 may be a "passive" display screen, or, if desired, the on-board display screen 135 may be a touch screen display to enable operational commands to be provided to the air filtration unit 30, 30A via the on-board display screen 135.

[0081] If desired, if the air filtration units 30, 30A are connected (by wired or wireless communications) to a monitoring and control system 140 (e.g., a central control and monitoring system located in the building or off-site), the monitoring and control system 140 may be used to monitor the status of and / or provide operational commands to the air filtration units 30, 30A. By way of non-limiting example, the air filtration units 30, 30A may be connected (by wired or wireless communications) to the monitoring and control system 140 located in the building housing the mobile air filtration patient isolation systems 5, 5A, 5B, 5BF, 5C, 5D. As a further example, but not by way of limitation, the air filtration units 30, 30A may be connected (by wired or wireless communication) to a monitoring and control system 140 located off-site, for example, the air filtration units 30, 30A may be connected via the Internet to a monitoring and control system (and mobile air filtration patient isolation systems 5, 5A, 5B, 5BF, 5C, 5D) located thousands of miles from the new air filtration units 30, 30A.

[0082] In another aspect of the invention, the monitoring and control system 140 may be incorporated directly into the air filtration unit 30, 30A. In this regard, it will be appreciated that having the monitoring and control system 140 within the air filtration unit 30, 30A provides the advantage of having a completely self-contained and autonomous working device that functions as its own web server platform embedded directly into the working device's own central processing unit (not shown).

[0083] In connection with the above, it should be appreciated that multiple air filtration units 30, 30A (located in one or more locations) may be connected to a single monitoring and control system (e.g., monitoring and control system 140 disposed within air filtration unit 30, 30A) or multiple monitoring and control systems.

[0084] However, providing an on-board display screen 135 generally increases the cost of the air filtration unit 30, 30A. To address this, the present invention provides a new approach to controlling the air filtration units 30, 30A without requiring the air filtration units 30, 30A to have an on-board display screen. This is accomplished through the provision and use of a novel system that allows the air filtration units 30, 30A to be controlled using a handheld unit that has scanning, networking, display and input capabilities.

[0085] In one preferred form of the invention, the air filtration unit 30, 30A is connected to a monitoring and control system (e.g., a central server) via the Internet and the air filtration unit 30, 30A is equipped with a device-specific QR code. In this form of the invention, the air filtration unit 30, 30A can eliminate the on-board display screen 135 and the air filtration unit 30, 30A can be controlled using a handheld unit with scanning, networking, display and input capabilities.

[0086] More specifically, in this aspect of the invention, referring now to FIG. 20, the air filtration unit 30, 30A is connected (e.g., by wired or wireless communication) to a monitoring and control system 140 (e.g., a central server) via the Internet, and the air filtration unit 30, 30A is equipped with a label 145 carrying a device-specific QR code 150 that can be machine-read (e.g., scanned) by a handheld unit 155 (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, smart watch, smart glasses, laptop, etc.) having scanning, networking, display and input capabilities. In this aspect of the invention, the air filtration unit 30, 30A reports its operational status (e.g., intake fan 75 on / off status, high / medium / low operating speed of intake fan 75, functional / non-functional status of filter 80, remaining useful life of filter 80, etc.) to the monitoring and control system 140 (e.g., the central server) via the Internet. In this case, a monitoring and control system 140 (e.g., a central server) may monitor the air filtration units 30, 30A for proper functioning. The monitoring and control system 140 (e.g., a central server) may further provide operational commands to the air filtration units 30, 30A to control their operation. Additionally, a user may access the monitoring and control system 140 (e.g., a central server) over a network such as the Internet to monitor the operational status of the air filtration units 30, 30A and / or provide operational commands to the air filtration units 30, 30A.

[0087] Importantly, even if the new air filtration unit 30, 30A does not have an on-board display screen, a user positioned adjacent to the new air filtration unit 30, 30A can obtain information regarding the new air filtration unit 30, 30A (e.g., on / off status of the intake fan 75, high / medium / low operating speed of the intake fan 75, functional / non-functional status of the filter 80, remaining useful life of the filter 80, etc.) More specifically, to obtain information regarding a particular air filtration unit 30, 30A, a user can simply scan a device-specific QR code 150 associated with the particular new air filtration unit 30, 30A using a handheld unit 155 (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, smartglasses, laptop, etc.) having scanning, networking, display and input capabilities. If desired, the handheld unit 155 may be configured (i.e., by appropriate software) to automatically open a web browser or other application or software to facilitate communication between the handheld unit 155 and the monitoring and control system 140 upon scanning the device-specific QR code 150. The device-specific QR code 150 assigned to this air filtration unit 30, 30A is then automatically transmitted by the handheld unit 155 to the monitoring and control system 140 (e.g., a central server), which returns operational information associated with the particular air filtration unit 30, 30A associated with this device-specific QR code (i.e., operational information associated with this particular air filtration unit 30, 30A) to the handheld unit. This operational information for the air filtration unit 30, 30A is then displayed to the user on the display screen of the handheld unit 155.

[0088] Additionally, and importantly, once the device-specific QR code 150 for this particular air filtration unit 30, 30A is used to establish a link between the handheld unit 155 and the air filtration unit 30, 30A via the monitoring and control system 140 (e.g., a central server), the handheld unit can be used to provide operational commands to the air filtration unit 30, 30A (i.e., by sending operational commands from the handheld unit 155 to the monitoring and control system 140) (which then relays these operational commands to the particular air filtration unit 30, 30A).

[0089] Thus, in this form of the invention, it will be appreciated that by associating the handheld unit 155 with a particular air filtration unit via the device-specific QR code for that particular air filtration unit, the display screen of the handheld unit 155 (e.g., a smart phone, tablet, smart watch, smart glasses, laptop, etc.) having scanning, networking, display and input capabilities, in effect becomes the display screen for that particular air filtration unit 30, 30A. This allows for the elimination of the on-board display screen 135 from the air filtration unit 30, 30A, thereby providing significant cost savings to the manufacturer.

[0090] It should be appreciated that because the air filtration unit 30, 30A may include the monitoring and control system 140, it may be possible to establish direct peer-to-peer wireless communication (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.) between the handheld unit 155 and the monitoring and control system 140. With this aspect of the invention, the device-specific QR code 150 includes the relevant network connectivity data (e.g., IP address, local network address, etc.) that the handheld unit 155 needs to connect to the monitoring and control system 140. This aspect of the invention may be useful in situations where the air filtration unit 30, 30A is not connected to the Internet (or any other wireless network). When the handheld unit 155 is directly connected to the monitoring and control system 140 built into a particular air filtration unit 30, 30A, it may be possible to use the handheld unit 155 to monitor and control the operation of that particular air filtration unit 30, 30A in the manner discussed above.

[0091] Fixes It will be understood that many additional variations in the details, materials, steps, and arrangements of parts described and shown herein to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art while remaining within the limitations and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. 1. A mobile air filtration and isolation system comprising: A base and a frame extending upward from the base; an air filtration unit attached to the frame; at least one flexible curtain extending downwardly from the air filtration unit to form an enclosure; 1. A mobile air filtration and isolation system comprising:

2. 10. The mobile air filtration isolation system of claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one wheel for enabling the base to be swiveled on a floor.

3. 10. The mobile air filtration isolation system of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises at least one vertical riser having a bottom end attached to the base and a top end attached to the air filtration unit.

4. 4. The mobile air filtration isolation system of claim 3, wherein the at least one vertical riser is configured to be selectively telescopically moved upward and downward to facilitate adjusting the height of the air filtration unit.

5. the top end of the vertical riser comprises a top support; Further, the air filtration unit is attached to the top support.

4. The mobile air filtration and isolation system of claim 3.

6. 10. The mobile air filtration isolation system of claim 1, wherein the air filtration unit is hingedly attached to the frame such that the air filtration unit can be moved between an upright position and a folded position.

7. 10. The mobile air filtration and isolation system of claim 1, wherein the base is hingedly attached to the frame such that the base can be moved between an upright position and a folded position.

8. 10. The mobile air filtration and isolation system of claim 1, wherein said at least one curtain is flexible.

9. 10. The mobile air filtration isolation system of claim 1, wherein said at least one curtain is removably secured to said air filtration unit.

10. 10. The mobile air filtration isolation system of claim 1, wherein the air filtration unit is configured to draw air from the enclosure and to purify the drawn air.

11. 11. The mobile air filtration isolation system of claim 10, wherein the air filtration unit comprises a filter.

12. 12. The mobile air filtration isolation system of claim 11, wherein the filter is configured to capture at least one selected from the group consisting of chemicals, viruses, microorganisms, drugs, droplets, and particles.

13. 12. The mobile air filtration isolation system of claim 11, wherein the air filtration unit comprises a UV light source configured to sterilize the filter.

14. 10. The mobile air filtration isolation system of claim 1, further comprising a battery for powering said air filtration unit.

15. 10. The mobile air filtration isolation system of claim 1, wherein the air filtration unit is wirelessly connected to a monitoring and control system.

16. 10. The mobile air filtration isolation system of claim 1, wherein the air filtration unit comprises sensors for monitoring at least one of: (i) the presence of chemicals, (ii) the presence of biologicals, and (iii) the proper functioning of the air filtration unit.

17. 1. A mobile air filtration isolation system for isolating a patient, comprising: A base and a frame extending upward from the base; an air filtration unit attached to the frame; at least one flexible curtain extending downwardly from the air filtering unit to form an enclosure around the patient's head and torso; 1. A mobile air filtration and isolation system comprising:

18. 1. An air filtration unit for drawing air from a room, purifying the drawn air, and then returning the purified air to the room, the air filtration unit comprising a housing, the housing comprising: an air inlet formed in the housing; an air outlet formed in the housing; a passageway extending through the housing connecting the air inlet to the air outlet; a filter disposed in the passageway for purifying air within the passageway; an intake fan disposed within the passageway for drawing air from the room through the filter into the air inlet and out the room through the air outlet; an ultraviolet (UV) light source for sterilizing the filter; An air filtration unit comprising:

19. 20. The air filtration unit of claim 18, wherein the filter is configured to capture at least one selected from the group consisting of chemicals, viruses, microorganisms, drugs, droplets, and particles.

20. 20. The air filtration unit of claim 18, further comprising at least one sensor for monitoring proper functioning of at least one of the intake fan and the filter.

21. 20. The air filtration unit of claim 18, further comprising at least one sensor for monitoring at least one of: (i) the presence of a chemical in the room; (ii) the presence of a biological in the room; and (iii) the concentration of carbon dioxide in the room.

22. 1. A method for isolating a patient, said method comprising:

1. A mobile air filtration isolation system for isolating a patient in a room, comprising: base, a frame extending upward from the base; an air filtration unit attached to the frame; and at least one flexible curtain extending downwardly from said air filtering unit to form an enclosure around the patient's head and torso; providing a mobile air filtration and isolation system comprising: placing the enclosure around the head and torso of the patient; operating the air filtration unit to draw air from the enclosure, purify the drawn air, and return the purified air to the room; A method comprising:

23. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the patient is in a hospital bed.

24. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of delivering a medication to the patient while operating the air filtration unit.

25. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the air filtration unit is hingedly attached to the frame and the base is hingedly attached to the frame such that the air filtration isolation system can be moved to an upright position for positioning the enclosure around the patient's head and torso, and to a folded position for storing the air filtration isolation system.

26. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one curtain is removably secured to the air filtration unit.

27. 1. A method for purifying a room, said method comprising: Providing an air filtration unit comprising a housing, the housing comprising: an air inlet formed in the housing; an air outlet formed in the housing; a passageway extending through said housing connecting said air inlet to said air outlet; a filter disposed in the passageway for purifying air within the passageway; an intake fan disposed within the passageway for drawing air from the room through the filter into the air inlet and out the room through the air outlet; and an ultraviolet (UV) light source for sterilizing the filter; providing an air filtration unit comprising: operating the air filtration unit to draw air from the room, purify the drawn air, and return the purified air to the room; A method comprising:

28. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the filter is configured to capture at least one selected from the group consisting of chemicals, viruses, microorganisms, drugs, droplets, and particles.

29. 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising at least one sensor for monitoring proper functioning of at least one of the intake fan and the filter.

30. 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising at least one sensor for monitoring at least one of: (i) the presence of a chemical in the room; (ii) the presence of a biological in the room; and (iii) a concentration of carbon dioxide in the room.

31. 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising modifying the operation of the air filtration unit to account for at least one of: (i) the presence of a chemical in the room; (ii) the presence of a biological in the room; and (iii) the concentration of carbon dioxide in the room.

32. 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising using the UV light source to sterilize the filter.

33. A mobile air filtration and isolation system for isolating objects in a room, said mobile air filtration and isolation system comprising: A base and a frame extending upwardly from the base and including (i) at least one vertical riser and (ii) a top support; an air filtration unit mounted to the top support of the frame, the top support being hingedly mounted to the vertical riser such that the air filtration unit can be moved between (i) a deployed configuration and (ii) a folded configuration; at least one curtain configured to be attached to the air filtration unit when the air filtration unit is in the deployed configuration, whereby when the air filtration unit is in the deployed configuration and the at least one curtain is attached to the air filtration unit, the air filtration unit and the at least one curtain together form an enclosure around the object to be isolated in the room; A mobile air filtration isolation system, wherein operation of the air filtration unit (i) draws air from the enclosure, purifies the drawn air, and returns the purified air to the room, and / or (ii) draws air from the room, purifies the drawn air, and returns the purified air to the enclosure.

34. A mobile air filtration isolation system as described in claim 33, wherein operation of the air filtration unit forms a negative pressure chamber within the enclosure around the object.

35. A mobile air filtration isolation system as described in claim 33, wherein the base has at least one leg.

36. A mobile air filtration isolation system as described in claim 35, wherein at least one leg is provided with at least one wheel for rotating the base on the floor of the room.

37. A mobile air filtration isolation system as described in claim 35, wherein the base is hingedly attached to the frame such that when the base is (i) positioned in an upright position, the at least one leg of the base extends generally perpendicular to the at least one vertical riser and parallel to the floor of the room, and when the base is (ii) positioned in a folded position, the at least one leg of the base extends generally parallel to the at least one vertical riser.

38. A mobile air filtration isolation system as described in claim 37, wherein the top support is hingedly attached to the vertical riser, such that when the air filtration unit is (i) positioned in the deployed configuration, the top support generally extends perpendicular to the at least one vertical riser and parallel to the floor of the room, and when the air filtration unit is (ii) positioned in the folded configuration, the top support generally extends parallel to the at least one vertical riser.

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