Biosafety Cabinets

Abstract

To provide a safety cabinet having made exchange work of a HEPA filter safe and easy, as well as, having made a contaminated area of a return area up to passing through the HEPA filter, minimized and cleanable.SOLUTION: A safety cabinet (10) includes: a work space (12); a front shutter (13) covering a part of an opening part of a front face of the work space; a work opening part (17) provided below the front shutter and allowing an operator to insert his or her hands therethrough to perform work; and a rear part port (19) arranged in a lower part of a back face of the work space. The safety cabinet supplies clean air from an upper part to the work space, and further includes: a first HEPA filter (31) for exhaust air which is arranged in a vertical placement on the rear side of the rear part port (19); and a second HEPA filter (32) for exhaust air which is arranged in a lateral placement in a back face flow passage (30) arranged on the back face of the work space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a safety cabinet suitable for handling substances that cannot be sterilized, such as highly active substances. [Background technology]

[0002] In pharmaceutical development and research into pathogens such as viruses, safety cabinets are used to protect workers and samples. In safety cabinets, the air in the work space where contaminants are handled is filtered with a HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter) to prevent contaminants from being discharged outside the equipment, and the air from which contaminants have been removed is exhausted outside the equipment.

[0003] As an example, the "Chemical Hazard Countermeasure Cabinet" described in Patent Document 1 is shown in Fig. 9. In the chemical hazard countermeasure cabinet 100, a pre-filter 111 is provided at the rear of the work space 103, and a HEPA filter 112 is provided below the work space 103. Inflow air 107 sucked in from a work opening 106 below a front shutter 104 is sucked in through the pre-filter 111 together with contaminants 110 in the work space, the contaminants 110 are removed by the HEPA filter 112, and the air is exhausted outside the device from an exhaust port 108 by a blower 105. In addition, a HEPA filter cover 113 and a vinyl bag mounting flange 116 are provided below the work space 103 and on the front side of the HEPA filter 112, and a vinyl bag 115 is attached. When replacing the HEPA filter 112 that has become contaminated with contaminants or dust, the HEPA filter cover 113 is removed, the vinyl bag 115 stored inside the vinyl bag mounting flange 116 is pulled out, and the HEPA filter 112 is removed through the vinyl bag 115. The removed HEPA filter 112 is stored inside the vinyl bag 115, cut by a cutting and welding machine 118, and sealed. (See Patent Document 1, Figure 6.) [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-160474 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a safety cabinet, the HEPA filter filters out contaminants and dust, so it gradually becomes clogged and needs to be replaced. When replacing the HEPA filter, it is necessary to ensure safety so that contaminants do not affect the workers. When handling pathogens such as viruses or cells, sterilization can be performed to make the environment safe. On the other hand, when handling substances that cannot be sterilized, such as highly active substances such as anticancer drugs, the HEPA filter is enclosed in a vinyl bag, sealed, and removed from the device, as described in Patent Document 1.

[0006] In addition, when handling highly toxic substances in a safety cabinet, the contaminated air is passed twice through an exhaust HEPA filter to exhaust detoxified air. By installing two exhaust HEPA filters, about 99% of the contaminants are removed by passing the air through the first HEPA filter, and nearly 100% of the contaminants are removed by passing the air through the second HEPA filter. However, the return area from the work space to the first HEPA filter becomes contaminated, and it is difficult to decontaminate this area. Also, when two HEPA filters are installed for exhaust, the second HEPA filter is installed at a high position, and replacing this HEPA filter requires work at a high place, making the work difficult.

[0007] In the "Chemical Hazard Countermeasure Cabinet" described in Patent Document 1, decontamination of the return area from the work space to the HEPA filter is not taken into consideration.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a safety cabinet that minimizes the contaminated area in the return area before passing through the HEPA filter, making it cleanable, and makes the HEPA filter replacement work safe and easy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above problems, an example of the "safety cabinet" of the present invention is as follows: A safety cabinet having a work space, a front shutter covering a part of an opening at the front of the work space, a work opening below the front shutter into which an operator can insert his / her hands to perform work, and a rear port provided at a lower part of the rear of the work space for sucking in air within the work space, and supplying clean air to the work space from above, Adjacent to the rear port or a pre-filter provided at the rear port A first HEPA filter for exhaust is disposed vertically, and a second HEPA filter for exhaust is disposed horizontally in a rear flow path provided at the rear of the working space. At the same time, A bag-in bag-out type first replacement port for replacing the first HEPA filter is provided at the rear or bottom of the first HEPA filter. It is characterized by the above. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, by vertically arranging the first HEPA filter for exhaust near the rear port provided at the rear of the work space, it is possible to minimize the contaminated area of ​​the return area before passing through the HEPA filter and make it possible to clean it. And by providing a HEPA filter replacement port between the first HEPA filter and the second HEPA filter, the first HEPA filter can be replaced safely and easily.

[0012] Problems, configurations and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a safety cabinet equipped with two HEPA filters for exhaust. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a safety cabinet provided with two exhaust HEPA filters. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the safety cabinet of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the safety cabinet of the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a view of the vinyl bag taken out from FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 shows a vinyl bag. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a right side view of the safety cabinet of the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a view of the vinyl bag taken out from FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional safety cabinet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Before describing the embodiments of the present invention, a conventional safety cabinet having two HEPA filters for exhaust in order to detoxify contaminated air will be described.

[0015] An example of a safety cabinet equipped with two HEPA filters for exhaust is shown in Figure 1. The figure is a schematic side view of the safety cabinet as seen from the right.

[0016] Inside the safety cabinet 10, there is a work space 12 with a front shutter 13 at the front. An air supply fan 14 is provided above the work space 12, and clean air that has passed through an air supply HEPA filter 15 is supplied to the work space 12. A rear flow path 30 is provided at the back of the work space 12, and a first HEPA filter 19 for exhaust is provided in the rear flow path 30. An exhaust fan 33 is provided above the safety cabinet 10, and a second HEPA filter 32 for exhaust is provided in the building exhaust duct system and the machine room beyond the exhaust fan 33. Air supplied to the work space 12 from above and air taken into the work space 12 from the work opening 17 flow through the rear flow path 30 through the prefilter 19, and contaminants 40 are removed by the first HEPA filter 31 and the second HEPA filter 32. However, contaminants adhere to the return area 20 before the air containing contaminants passes through the first HEPA filter 31, that is, the return area 20 which is the area between the pre-filter 19 provided at the rear of the working space 12 and the first HEPA filter 31 provided in the rear flow path 30, and cleaning and removing these contaminants has been difficult. In addition, the second HEPA filter 32 is provided above the safety cabinet 10, and replacement of the second HEPA filter 32 requires work at a high altitude, making the work difficult.

[0017] Another example of a safety cabinet equipped with two HEPA filters for exhaust is shown in Figure 2. The figure is a schematic side view of the safety cabinet as seen from the right.

[0018] The difference from the safety cabinet in FIG. 1 is that instead of providing a second HEPA filter above the safety cabinet 10, a second HEPA filter 32 is provided in the rear flow path 30 of the safety cabinet 10. 1, it is difficult to clean and remove contaminants adhering to the return area 20. In addition, the second HEPA filter 32 is provided at the top of the exhaust passage 30, and replacement of the second HEPA filter 32 requires work at a high altitude, making the work difficult.

[0019] The present invention provides a safety cabinet that minimizes the contaminated area in the return area before passing through the HEPA filter for exhaust and makes it possible to clean it. It also provides a safety cabinet that makes it safe and easy to replace the HEPA filter.

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not to be interpreted as being limited to the description of the embodiment shown below. It will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that the specific configuration can be changed without departing from the concept or gist of the present invention. In addition, in each drawing for explaining the embodiment, the same components are given the same names and symbols, and repeated explanations thereof may be omitted. EXAMPLES

[0021] Figures 3 to 5 show a safety cabinet according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a front view of the safety cabinet according to the first embodiment, and Figure 4 is a right side view. Figure 5 shows the safety cabinet of Figure 4 with a vinyl bag removed from the replacement opening of the HEPA filter.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 4, a work space 12 is provided inside a safety cabinet 10. An air supply fan 14 and an air supply HEPA filter 15 are provided at the top of the work space 12, and air taken in from outside the device is made clean through the air supply HEPA filter 15 and supplied to the work space 12. A front shutter 13 that moves up and down is provided at the front of the work space 12, and a worker 50 inserts his or her hands through a work opening 17 below the front shutter 13 to perform work. A rear flow path 30 is provided at the back of the work space 12, and two exhaust HEPA filters are provided in the rear flow path 30.

[0023] As a characteristic configuration of the safety cabinet of this embodiment, a first HEPA filter 31 for exhaust is disposed vertically near the rear opening 18 at the back of the work space. That is, a prefilter 19 for removing coarse dust is provided at the rear opening 18 at the lower back of the work space, and the first HEPA filter 31 is disposed vertically close to and parallel to the prefilter 19. By disposing the first HEPA filter 31 close to and parallel to the rear opening 18 at the back of the work space or the prefilter 19 provided at the rear opening 18, the return area 20 from the work space 12 to the first HEPA filter 31 can be reduced. In the rear flow passage 30, a second HEPA filter 32 for exhaust air is disposed laterally above the first HEPA filter 31.

[0024] The air supplied from above to the working space 12 by the air supply fan 14 and the air taken into the working space 12 from the working opening 17 flow from the working space 12 through the rear port 18 and the rear flow passage 30. Contaminants 40 in the working space are filtered and removed by the first HEPA filter 31 and the second HEPA filter 32.

[0025] A bag-in-bag-out type first HEPA filter replacement port 34 for replacing the HEPA filter is provided on the rear of the first HEPA filter 31 for exhaust and on the back wall of the housing of the safety cabinet, and a vinyl bag is folded and stored in it. Similarly, a bag-in-bag-out type second HEPA filter replacement port 35 for replacing the HEPA filter is provided on the back wall of the housing of the safety cabinet corresponding to the second HEPA filter 32, and a vinyl bag is folded and stored in it.

[0026] 5 shows the state in which the vinyl bag 37 is pulled out from the first HEPA filter replacement opening 34 in order to replace the first HEPA filter 31. When replacing the HEPA filter, the vinyl bag 37 is pulled out and the first HEPA filter 31 is removed through the vinyl bag. Then, as shown by the reference symbol 31', the first HEPA filter is tilted and stored in the vinyl bag 37. Then, although not shown, the portion of the vinyl bag that stores the HEPA filter is cut with a cutting and welding machine, and the HEPA filter 31 is sealed in the vinyl bag 37. Then, contaminants in the return area 20 between the working space 12 and the first HEPA filter 31 are cleaned and removed.

[0027] An example of the vinyl bag being removed from the replacement opening is shown in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 6(a), vinyl bag 37 is removed from the folded state. Then, as shown in Figure 6(b), HEPA filter 31 is stored in vinyl bag 37. Thereafter, the portion of vinyl bag 37 storing the HEPA filter is cut and heat-sealed to seal HEPA filter 31 in vinyl bag 37.

[0028] According to this embodiment, by arranging the first HEPA filter 31 for exhaust vertically adjacent to the rear opening 18 at the rear of the work space, the contaminated area in the return area until it passes through the first HEPA filter can be minimized, making it easier to clean the contaminated area.

[0029] Furthermore, by arranging the first HEPA filter 31, which is the most contaminated, vertically near the rear opening 18 at the back of the work space, the first HEPA filter 31, which is the most contaminated, can be replaced without facing the contaminated side downward, thereby preventing re-scattering of contaminants.

[0030] In addition, by arranging the first HEPA filter 31 for exhaust vertically near the rear opening 18 at the rear of the work space and arranging the second HEPA filter 32 horizontally in the rear flow path 30, the two HEPA filters can be arranged at a low position within the reach of an operator, making it easy to replace the HEPA filters.

[0031] Furthermore, by providing a bag-in, back-out type replacement port 34 at the rear of the first HEPA filter 31 for exhaust, it is possible to prevent contaminants from being re-dispersed when replacing the HEPA filter, making it possible to replace the filter safely.

[0032] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, a bag-in-bag-out type replacement port for replacing the first HEPA filter is provided in the area between the first HEPA filter and the second HEPA filter, so that the first HEPA filter can be replaced from the area that has passed through the less contaminated HEPA filter, rather than from the most contaminated return area side, making it possible to replace the HEPA filter safely and easily. EXAMPLES

[0033] 7 and 8 show a safety cabinet according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a bag-in bag-out type replacement port is provided below the first HEPA filter for exhaust.

[0034] 7, a bag-in-bag-out type first HEPA filter replacement port 34 for replacing the first HEPA filter 31 is provided below the first HEPA filter 31 that is disposed vertically adjacent to the rear opening 18 at the back of the working space. A vinyl bag for storing the first HEPA filter 31 to be replaced is folded and placed in the first HEPA filter replacement port 34.

[0035] 8 shows the state in which vinyl bag 37 has been pulled out in order to replace the first HEPA filter. When replacing the HEPA filter, vinyl bag 37 is pulled out and first HEPA filter 31 is removed. The removed first HEPA filter is then moved downward and stored in vinyl bag 37. Then, although not shown, the portion of the vinyl bag that stores the HEPA filter is cut and heat-sealed to seal HEPA filter 31 in vinyl bag 37. The other configurations are the same as those of the safety cabinet of the first embodiment.

[0036] According to this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, by providing a bag-in, back-out type HEPA filter replacement port at the bottom of the first HEPA filter, it is possible to prevent re-scattering of contaminants when replacing the HEPA filter, and therefore it is possible to replace the filter safely.

[0037] In each of the above embodiments, a total exhaust type safety cabinet has been described in which air taken in from outside the apparatus is passed through the work space, contaminants are removed using a HEPA filter, and all of the air is exhausted outside the apparatus. However, the present invention can also be used in a circulation type safety cabinet in which air is circulated by returning a portion of the exhaust air to the work space.

[0038] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes various modified examples. For example, the above-described embodiment has been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and is not necessarily limited to those including all of the configurations described. It is also possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. It is also possible to add, delete, or replace a part of the configuration of each embodiment with another configuration. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10. Biosafety Cabinet 12. Working Space 13 Front Shutter 14 Air supply fan 15 HEPA Air Intake Filter 17 Working opening 18 Rear Entrance 19 Pre-filter 20 Return Area 30 Rear flow passage 31 First exhaust HEPA filter 32 Secondary exhaust HEPA filter 33 Exhaust fan 34 First HEPA filter replacement port 35 Second HEPA filter replacement port 37 Plastic Bag 40 Pollutants 50 workers

Claims

1. A safety cabinet having a work space, a front shutter covering a part of an opening at the front of the work space, a work opening below the front shutter into which an operator can insert his / her hands to perform work, and a rear port provided at a lower part of the rear of the work space for sucking in air within the work space, and supplying clean air to the work space from above, a first HEPA filter for exhaust is disposed vertically in the vicinity of the rear opening or a pre-filter provided in the rear opening; A second HEPA filter for exhaust is disposed horizontally in a rear flow path provided at the rear of the working space, A safety cabinet characterized in that a first bag-in-bag-out type replacement port for replacing the first HEPA filter is provided at the rear or bottom of the first HEPA filter.

2. 2. The safety cabinet according to claim 1, A safety cabinet, wherein the first HEPA filter is arranged in parallel with the prefilter.

3. 2. The safety cabinet according to claim 1, A safety cabinet characterized in that a vinyl bag for storing the first HEPA filter to be replaced is folded and placed in the first replacement port.

4. In the safety cabinet according to claim 1, A safety cabinet characterized in that a bag-in-bag-out type second replacement port for replacing the second HEPA filter is provided on a back wall of the safety cabinet housing.

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