Wheelchair isolator and wheelchair type isolator

Abstract

To provide a wheelchair isolator for preventing damage with sitting of a patient, facilitating a disinfection work after use, and reducing caring of the patient in use.SOLUTION: A wheelchair isolator 2 includes: an isolated structure 5 for forming an isolated space to isolate a patient; and a ventilation unit 8 for ventilating the isolated space in the isolated structure 5. The isolated structure 5 includes: two side surface panels 13 arranged on both of right and left sides of a wheelchair 3; a rear surface panel positioned on an upper side and a rear side of a backrest part of the wheelchair 3; and a top surface panel continuing from upper end edges of the side surface panels 13 and the rear surface panel. The isolated structure 5 includes a footrest plate 7 which is attached to lower ends of the side surface panels 13 so as to be laid between the right and left side surface panels 13 and where a plurality of wheels 25 are arranged on a bottom surface. A gateway W for the patient to get into / get out of the isolated space is formed on an inner side of front end edges of the right and left side surface panels 13, a front end edge of the top surface panel, and a front end edge of the footrest plate 7. A door sheet 6 is attached to the gateway.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheelchair isolator that is attached to a wheelchair and is suitable for isolating and transporting a patient suffering from an infectious disease, for example, and a wheelchair-type isolator using the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a wheelchair-type isolator for transporting a patient suffering from an infectious disease in a seated position includes a bag-shaped isolation section made of a flexible vinyl sheet to form an enclosed space, a holding frame that is fixed to the wheelchair to maintain the shape of the isolation section, and a ventilation unit that ventilates the inside of the isolation section (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] The conventional wheelchair-type isolator is used as follows. First, the entrance provided at the front of the isolation section is opened by operating a fastener installed at the entrance. The patient enters the inside of the isolation section through the entrance and sits on the seat of the wheelchair. Once the patient is seated, he or she lifts their feet off the floor and places them on the foot supports of the wheelchair. The fastener of the isolation section is then operated to close the entrance and seal the isolation section. Once the isolation section is sealed with the patient inside, the ventilation unit is activated, and the air inside the isolation section is sucked in by the fan of the ventilation unit, filtered by the filter in the ventilation unit, and then discharged to the outside. This maintains a negative pressure inside the isolation section and prevents the spread of viruses and pathogens carried by the patient. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4381046 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the above-described conventional wheelchair-type isolator is configured such that a patient sits on the wheelchair while being inside a bag-shaped isolation part formed of a flexible vinyl sheet. Therefore, a part of the isolation part is sandwiched between the patient and the wheelchair. For this reason, when the patient sits on the wheelchair, an excessive force acts on the isolation part and it may be damaged, resulting in a problem that the isolation function of the patient is impaired.

[0006] Further, since the above-described conventional wheelchair-type isolator has a bag-like shape in which the isolation part is formed of a flexible material, there is a disadvantage that the disinfection work after use is troublesome. Specifically, since the material of the isolation part is flexible and amorphous, when spraying a disinfectant on the surface of the isolation part and wiping it with a wipe, there is a problem that the isolation part is deformed and the wiping work is troublesome. In order to save such labor, it may be considered to discard the isolation part every time the isolator is used, but such a measure causes a problem of wasteful use of resources.

[0007] Further, when accommodating a patient in the isolation part of the above-described conventional wheelchair-type isolator, the seated patient raises his / her feet from the floor and places them on the foot support. However, this operation may be difficult for a patient with reduced physical strength to perform independently and assistance is required.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a wheelchair isolator capable of preventing damage caused by a patient's seating. Another object is to provide a wheelchair isolator capable of easily performing disinfection work after use. Still another object is to provide a wheelchair isolator capable of reducing assistance for a patient during use.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the wheelchair isolator of the present invention is a wheelchair isolator attached to a wheelchair for isolating and transporting a patient seated on the wheelchair, and an isolation structure for forming an isolation space for isolating the patient, and a ventilation unit for ventilating the isolation space. The isolation structure includes: side panels arranged on both the left and right sides of the wheelchair at a distance greater than the width of the seat of the wheelchair; A back panel disposed above and behind the backrest of the wheelchair; a top panel connected to the upper edges of the side panels and the rear panel; a footrest connected to the lower end edge of the side panel and positioned under the feet of a patient seated in the wheelchair; A door body for opening and closing an entrance formed inside the front end edges of the side panel, the top panel, and the footrest plate; a support frame fixed to the wheelchair and supporting the panels and the footrest; The present invention is characterized in that it has the following features.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the wheelchair isolator includes an isolation structure forming an isolation space for isolating a patient seated in a wheelchair, and a ventilation unit for ventilating the isolation space, and the air in the isolation space is ventilated by the ventilation unit. This allows the patient to be isolated and transported while maintaining a negative or positive pressure in the isolation space. Here, the isolation structure forming the isolation space has side panels disposed on both the left and right sides of the wheelchair at a distance greater than the width of the seat of the wheelchair, and a back panel disposed above and behind the backrest of the wheelchair, so that excessive force from the patient seated in the wheelchair is prevented from acting on the isolation structure. Therefore, damage to the isolation structure caused by the patient sitting in the wheelchair can be prevented, and the isolation function for the patient in the isolation space can be stably exerted.

[0011] In addition, the wheelchair isolator having the above-mentioned configuration has an isolation structure that forms an isolation space and has side panels, a back panel, a top panel, and a footrest, so that the wheelchair isolator can be disinfected more easily after use than conventional isolators. In detail, the side panels, back panel, top panel, and footrest of the isolation structure are formed of plate-like bodies, so that when a disinfectant is sprayed and wiped off with a rag, there is no increase in the effort required for wiping due to deformation, as with conventional isolation parts formed of flexible materials. Therefore, this wheelchair isolator can be easily disinfected after use.

[0012] In addition, in the wheelchair isolator having the above-mentioned configuration, the isolation structure forming the isolated space has a footrest plate extending under the feet of a patient seated in a wheelchair, so the patient can sit in the wheelchair by passing over the footrest plate. Therefore, the patient seated in the wheelchair does not need to lift his / her feet from the floor and place them on the foot supports as in the conventional case, and there is no need to assist this action. Therefore, the effort required for assistance when accommodating a patient in the wheelchair isolator can be reduced compared to the conventional case.

[0013] In one embodiment of the wheelchair isolator, a protrusion or wheels are provided on the bottom surface of the footrest of the isolation structure so as to leave a predetermined gap with respect to a flat floor.

[0014] According to the above embodiment, when the wheelchair on which the wheelchair isolator is installed is placed on a flat floor, the projections or wheels provided on the bottom surface of the footrest of the isolation structure are formed to form a predetermined gap between the floor surface and the projections or wheels provided on the bottom surface of the footrest. When the patient steps on the footrest when getting on or off the wheelchair, the wheelchair isolator and the wheelchair tilt due to the weight of the patient, and the projections or wheels on the bottom surface of the footrest come into contact with the floor surface. This stabilizes the footrest, so that the patient can safely pass over the footrest and sit on the wheelchair. On the other hand, when the wheelchair moves, if a projection is provided on the bottom surface of the footrest, this projection is separated from the floor surface, so that the wheelchair can move without being hindered by the projections. Here, the material of the projections is preferably one having a large coefficient of friction with the floor in order to suppress slipping on the floor surface when the patient places the footrest on the footrest. In addition, the material of the projections is preferably one having a relatively small modulus of elasticity in order to reduce the impact when the wheelchair collides with a step or a convex part on the floor surface when moving. For example, rubber or elastomer can be used as such a material.

[0015] In addition, when the wheelchair moves, if wheels are provided on the bottom surface of the footrest, the wheels are away from the floor surface, so the wheelchair can move smoothly. In addition, even if there is a step or a protrusion on the floor surface when the wheelchair moves, the wheels that come into contact with the step or the protrusion can rotate and easily overcome the step or the protrusion.

[0016] In one embodiment of the wheelchair isolator, the door body of the isolation structure is formed so that an upper portion thereof is inclined toward the patient side when the entrance is closed.

[0017] According to the above embodiment, when the door of the isolation structure closes the entrance, the upper part of the door is inclined toward the patient, so that the volume of the isolation space can be made relatively small. Also, air rising from the vicinity of the patient's feet is efficiently guided upward by contacting the inclined upper part of the door. This allows a stable air flow to be formed in the isolation space from the vicinity of the feet of the patient seated in a wheelchair toward the vicinity of the head, so that the isolation space can be efficiently ventilated.

[0018] In one embodiment of the wheelchair isolator, the ventilation unit has a fan that creates an air flow between the isolated space and the outside, and a HEPA filter that filters the air that is blown by the fan.

[0019] According to the above embodiment, when the ventilation unit is operated, an air flow is formed between the isolated space and the outside by the action of the fan. The air in this air flow is filtered by the HEPA filter in the ventilation unit. Therefore, when air is exhausted from the isolated space to the outside to create negative pressure in the isolated space, it is possible to suppress the spread of viruses and pathogens carried by patients in the isolated space to the outside. On the other hand, when air is supplied from the outside to the isolated space to create positive pressure in the isolated space, it is possible to supply clean air with less dust and the like to the isolated space.

[0020] In one embodiment of the wheelchair isolator, at least one of the side panel, the back panel, the top panel and the door body of the isolation structure is formed of a transparent material.

[0021] According to the above embodiment, at least one of the side panel, the back panel, the top panel and the door of the isolation structure is made of a transparent material, so that the condition of the patient in the isolated space can be observed. Also, the sense of claustrophobia felt by the patient in the isolated space can be reduced.

[0022] The wheelchair-type isolator of the present invention is formed by attaching the above-mentioned wheelchair isolator to a wheelchair.

[0023] According to the above configuration, since the wheelchair-type isolator is formed by attaching the wheelchair isolator to the wheelchair, damage to the isolation structure due to a patient sitting on the wheelchair is prevented, and the isolation function for the patient in the isolation space can be stably exhibited. In addition, the disinfection work after using the wheelchair-type isolator can be easily performed. Further, the labor for assisting when accommodating a patient in the isolation space of the wheelchair-type isolator can be reduced compared to the conventional case.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] [Figure 1] It is a side view showing a wheelchair-type isolator provided with the wheelchair isolator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] It is a front view showing the wheelchair-type isolator of the embodiment. [Diagram 3] It is a rear view showing the wheelchair-type isolator of the embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a plan view showing the wheelchair-type isolator of the embodiment. [Diagram 5] It is a perspective view showing a part of the door body of the wheelchair isolator of the embodiment. [Figure 6] It is a front view showing a state where the door body of the wheelchair-type isolator of the embodiment is opened. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view schematically showing the wheelchair isolator of the embodiment. [Figure 8] It is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the ventilation unit provided in the wheelchair isolator of the embodiment.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a wheelchair type isolator including a wheelchair isolator according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing the wheelchair type isolator according to the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a back view showing the wheelchair type isolator according to the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the wheelchair type isolator according to the embodiment. A wheelchair isolator 2 according to this embodiment is attached to a wheelchair 3 to constitute a wheelchair type isolator 1. This wheelchair isolator 2 is used to isolate and transport a patient seated in the wheelchair 3. In the present invention, front / rear, left / right, and up / down are defined based on the patient seated in the wheelchair 3. This wheelchair isolator 2 includes an isolation structure 5 that forms an isolation space that isolates the patient, and a ventilation unit 8 that ventilates the isolation space within the isolation structure 5.

[0027] The isolation structure 5 of the wheelchair isolator 2 is configured to include a plate-shaped panel, a flexible sheet, and a support frame that supports the above-mentioned panel and the sheet. In detail, the isolation structure 5 has two side panels 13 arranged on both the left and right sides of the wheelchair 3, a back panel 14 located above and behind the backrest 32 of the wheelchair 3, and a top panel 15 that is continuous with the upper edges of the side panels 13 and the back panel 14. The isolation structure 5 also has a footrest plate 7 attached to the lower ends of the side panels 13 so as to span the left and right side panels 13.

[0028] In a side view, the side panel 13 extends in front of the backrest 32 of the wheelchair 3, above and in front of the armrest 30, and in front of and above the front leg frame 35. The front and upper edges of the side panel 13 are formed so as to incline from the front to the rear as they move from the bottom to the top. The height of the side panel 13 is formed so that a patient of average height can get on and off the wheelchair in a standing position. The left and right side panels 13 are arranged at a distance greater than the width of the seating portion 31 of the wheelchair 3 and greater than the maximum width of the wheelchair 3 in a front view. The left and right side panels 13 are arranged at a distance greater than the width of the seating portion 31, and the distance may be less than the maximum width of the wheelchair 3.

[0029] The back panel 14 has a height from the vicinity of the handlebars 33 of the wheelchair 3 to the ceiling surface, and is disposed at a position away from the rear side based on the seating position of the patient in the wheelchair 3. Specifically, the back panel 14 is disposed at a position near the base of the handlebars 33 in the front-rear direction of the wheelchair 3. In this way, the back panel 14 is disposed above and behind the backrest portion 32 of the wheelchair 3.

[0030] The top panel 15 is attached to and continues from the upper edges of the side panels 13, 13 on both the left and right sides and the upper edge of the rear panel 14, forming the ceiling of the isolated space. The ventilation unit 8 is installed on top of this top panel 15.

[0031] The foot rest 7 has a rectangular shape that is long in the width direction when viewed from the patient's side, and is arranged so as to be located under the feet of the patient seated on the wheelchair 3. The foot rest 7 is formed of a wooden plate-like body, and anti-slip resin tiles are installed on the surface. The foot rest 7 may be formed of other materials such as aluminum, and other anti-slip materials such as rubber sheets may be installed on the surface. A plurality of wheels 25 are provided on the bottom surface of the foot rest 7. The wheels 25 are arranged near the four corners of the rectangular foot rest 7, and two wheels are arranged midway near the front edge and two wheels are arranged midway near the rear edge. These wheels 25 are arranged so that a gap of 5 millimeters to 5 centimeters is formed between the bottom end of the wheels 25 and the floor surface when the wheelchair type isolator 1 is installed on a flat floor. The size of the gap between the wheels 25 and the floor surface may be other values. The number of wheels 25 may be other values. At least one of the plurality of wheels 25 may be provided with a stopper that suppresses rotation. Since the rotation of the wheels 25 is restricted by the stoppers, the footrest 7 can be stopped stably when the patient stands on the footrest 7.

[0032] An entrance W for a patient to enter and exit the isolated space is formed on the inside of the front edge of the left and right side panels 13, the front edge of the top panel 15, and the front edge of the foot rest board 7. This entrance W is surrounded by frame members provided along the edges of each panel 13, 15 and the foot rest board 7. A door sheet 6 as a door body is removably attached to this entrance W. The door sheet 6 is formed of a flexible material, for example, a polyvinyl chloride sheet. The door sheet 6 may be formed of other materials such as polyethylene and fluorine-based resin other than polyvinyl chloride. The door sheet 6 has an upper edge fixed near the upper end of the entrance W, while a tape-like hook-and-loop fastener 23b is provided on the edges on both the left and right sides. In addition, of the frame members surrounding the entrance W, the left and right frame members 21 attached to the left and right side panels 13 are provided with hook-and-loop fasteners 23a that are combined with the hook-and-loop fasteners 23b of the door sheet 6. When the door sheet 6 closes the entrance W, the hook-and-loop fasteners 23b of the door sheet 6 and the hook-and-loop fasteners 23a of the frame member of the entrance W adhere to each other, thereby holding the entrance W in a closed state. Meanwhile, the door sheet 6 opens the entrance W by rolling it upwards while peeling the fasteners 23a, 23b away from each other, as shown in Fig. 5. When the entrance W is fully open, the rolled door sheet 6 is arranged to be positioned above the front edge of the top panel 15, as shown in Fig. 1.

[0033] Fig. 6 is a front view showing the state in which the door sheet 6 of the wheelchair-type isolator 1 has been rolled up to open the entrance W, exposing the interior of the isolated space. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the interior of the isolated space with the left side panel 13 of the wheelchair isolator 2 removed, with the support frame omitted. In Fig. 7, the wheelchair 3 to which the wheelchair isolator 2 is attached is simply shown by imaginary lines.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 7, the wheelchair isolator 2 has seating side panels 16a extending vertically arranged so as to contact the outsides of both the seating portion 31 and the armrest portion 30 of the wheelchair 3. The seating side panels 16a are formed so that the dimension in the front-rear direction is slightly larger than the dimension in the front-rear direction of the seating portion 31, and the dimension in the up-down direction is slightly larger than the dimension in the direction of the seating portion 31 and the armrest portion 30. The upper end edge of the seating side panel 16a is connected to the armrest side panel 16b extending horizontally at approximately the same height as the upper end of the armrest portion 30. The armrest side panel 16b is formed so that the dimension in the front-rear direction is approximately the same as the dimension in the front-rear direction of the seating side panel 16a, and the dimension in the width direction is formed so as to be the same as the separation distance between the seating side panel 16a and the side panel 13. The outer edge of the armrest side panel 16b is connected to the side panel 13. A seat front panel 16c extending in the vertical direction is connected to the front end edges of the seat side panels 16a and the armrest side panels 16b. The lower end of this seat front panel 16c extends to a height that is approximately the center between the seat 31 and the front wheels 34b of the wheelchair 3. The outer edge of this seat front panel 16c is connected to the side panel 13.

[0035] In addition, in the wheelchair isolator 2, back side panels 17 are arranged on the left and right sides of the backrest 32 of the wheelchair 3 to close the gap between the side panel 13 and the backrest 32. The back side panels 17 extend upward from the rear end edges of the armrest side panels 16b, and their outer edges are connected to the side panels 13. The height of the upper end of the back side panels 17 is slightly higher than the handlebars 33 of the wheelchair 3, and is formed at the same height as the lower end of the back panel 14. Between the upper end edge of the back side panels 17 and the lower end edge of the back panel 14, a horizontal gap panel 18 is arranged which has the same width as the back side panels 17 and extends horizontally.

[0036] The wheelchair isolator 2 is provided with stepped foot side panels 19 on the outer sides of the front leg frames 35 extending forward and downward from both the left and right sides of the seating section 31 of the wheelchair 3. The foot side panels 19 are formed in a stepped shape, spanning between the lower end edge of the seating front panel 16c and the rear end edge of the foot rest 7. The stepped foot side panels 19 are composed of a horizontal panel 19a extending forward from the lower end of the seating front panel 16c, and a vertical panel 19b extending downward from the front end of the horizontal panel 19a. The lower end of the vertical panel 19b is connected to the rear end edge of the foot rest 7. The outer edges of the foot side panels 19 are connected to the side panels 13.

[0037] Since a small gap is formed between the horizontal gap panel 18 and the back side panel 17 and the wheelchair 3, a backrest sheet 27 is arranged to close this gap. The backrest sheet 27 has a rectangular shape and is made of a flexible material such as polyvinyl chloride. The upper edge of the backrest sheet 27 is fixed to a frame member 26 extending in the width direction along the rear edge of the left and right horizontal gap panels 18, and the left and right side edges are fixed to the frame members on the inner edges of the back side panels 17. The backrest sheet 27 covers the surface of the backrest portion 32 of the wheelchair 3. The backrest sheet 27 is formed to have a size larger than the size of the backrest portion 32 so as not to interfere with the cushioning effect of the backrest portion 32 when a patient sits down.

[0038] In addition, a gap is formed between the seat front panel 16c, the foot side panel 19, the foot rest 7, and the wheelchair 3, so a foot sheet 28 is arranged to reduce this gap. The foot sheet 28 has a roughly rectangular shape and is made of a flexible material such as polyvinyl chloride. The upper edge of the foot sheet 28 is fixed to the front edge of the seat 31 of the wheelchair 3, and has a width larger than the width of the seat 31. The foot sheet 28 hangs downward from the seat 31 of the wheelchair 3 so as to close the gap between the left and right seat front panels 16c and the foot side panels 19. The lower end of the foot sheet 28 is bent and arranged so as to follow the bottom surface of the rear end side of the foot rest 7, and the edge of the lower end of the foot sheet 28 is not fixed to the bottom surface of the foot rest 7 to allow air to enter, leaving a gap. The lower edge of the foot sheet 28 may be fixed to the foot rest 7, in which case an opening may be provided for installing a filter or the like. The two side edges of the foot sheet 28 are fixed to the seat front panel 16c and the foot side panels 19.

[0039] Each panel 13, 14, 15, 16a, 16b, 16c, 17, 18, 19a, 19b of the wheelchair isolator 2 is formed of a transparent plate-like body, and may be formed of, for example, an acrylic resin plate-like body, but may also be formed of reinforced glass or other resins. Also, each panel 13, 14, 15, 16a, 16b, 16c, 17, 18, 19a, 19b may be formed of a single plate-like body, or may be formed of multiple plate-like bodies. For example, as in the side panel 13 shown in FIG. 1, a rectangular panel on the footrest plate 7 side, a trapezoidal panel on the entrance W side, and a rectangular panel above the armrest 30 may be formed by combining multiple panels.

[0040] The above-mentioned panels 13, 14, 15, 16a, 16b, 16c, 17, 18, 19a, and 19b are surrounded by frame members and connected to each other. The frame members are formed of aluminum rods and connected to each other to form a support frame. The panels 13, 14, 15, 16a, 16b, 16c, 17, 18, 19a, and 19b and the footrest 7 are supported by this support frame. The support frame is fixed with bolts and nuts to the left and right frames of the seating portion 31 of the wheelchair 3, the front leg frame 35, the frame supporting the armrest portion 30, and the frame supporting both the left and right sides of the backrest portion 32. In this way, the support frame of the isolation structure 5 is connected to the wheelchair 3.

[0041] The wheelchair 3 to which the wheelchair isolator 2 of this embodiment is attached is a hand-pushed wheelchair for assistance commonly used in medical institutions and nursing facilities, and has a seating section 31 that supports the buttocks and upper thighs of a patient, a backrest section 32 that contacts the back of the patient, and armrest sections 30 that extend in the front-rear direction above both the left and right sides of the seating section 31. The upper ends of the frames that extend in the vertical direction on both the left and right sides of the backrest section 32 are bent backward and connected to a handle 33. Large-diameter rear wheels 34a are arranged behind and below both sides of the seating section 31. Small-diameter front wheels 34b are arranged forward and downward on both sides of the seating section 31. Front leg frames 35 extend obliquely downward toward the front of the front wheels 34b on both sides of the front end of the seating section 31. In a typical wheelchair, a foot support is attached to the front leg frame, but the front leg frame 35 of the wheelchair 3 of the present invention does not have a foot support attached thereto, and instead has a footrest board 7 disposed at the lower end.

[0042] FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the inside of the ventilation unit 8. The ventilation unit 8 is installed on the top panel 15, and a HEPA filter 41 and a fan 42 are built in a box-shaped housing. The HEPA filter 41 meets the definition of JIS Z 8122 and can be replaced as appropriate depending on the usage state. The fan 42 has a rotating blade driven by a motor. The power of the fan 42 is supplied by a battery 9 described later. A ventilation port 45 is formed by penetrating the top panel 15 at the position where the ventilation unit 8 is installed. When the ventilation unit 8 is operated, the fan 42 rotates, and the air in the isolated space is guided into the ventilation unit 8 through the panel ventilation port 45 as shown by the arrow F1. When the air guided into the ventilation unit 8 passes through the HEPA filter 41, dust in the isolated space and droplets discharged from the patient are collected and purified. The air purified by the HEPA filter 41 is discharged to the outside from the housing ventilation port 46 as shown by the arrow F2.

[0043] The battery 9 that supplies power to the ventilation unit 8 is arranged on the rear side of the isolation structure 5. Preferably, the battery 9 is arranged below the handle 33 of the wheelchair 3. The battery 9 may be hung from a hanging bracket attached to a frame member of the isolation structure 5, or may be supported by a support bracket attached to the frame member. The battery 9 may be one that displays the remaining charge and the power supply status. Since the battery 9 is arranged on the rear side of the isolation structure 5, the operator of the wheelchair 3 can easily replace the battery, check the remaining charge, and check the power supply status.

[0044] In the wheelchair isolator 2 of this embodiment, a cylinder support part 10 that supports an oxygen cylinder is installed on the back side of the isolation structure 5. By supporting the oxygen cylinder with the cylinder support part 10, it is possible to transport a patient while supplying oxygen from the oxygen cylinder.

[0045] In addition, in the wheelchair isolator 2 of this embodiment, a disinfectant support 11 that accommodates and supports a disinfectant container containing a disinfectant is installed on the back side of the isolation structure 5. This disinfectant support 11 is formed of a box-shaped container with an open top. The disinfectant support 11 is installed at the lower end of the back panel 14 and above the right side of the handle 33 of the wheelchair 3 when viewed from the back side. By installing the disinfectant support on the back side of the isolation structure 5, the operator can easily remove the disinfectant container from the disinfectant support 11 before and after transporting a patient by the wheelchair-type isolator 1, and can quickly disinfect the wheelchair isolator 2 and the wheelchair 3.

[0046] In addition, in the wheelchair isolator 2 of this embodiment, an IV support bracket 37 is installed on the inside of each of the left and right side panels 13. A frame member 29 extending vertically is provided near the center in the front-to-rear direction on the side panel 13. An IV support bracket 37 for suspending an IV bag is installed near the upper end of the frame member 29. This IV support bracket 37 is installed near the upper end of the frame member 29, close to the inclined portion of the front edge that forms the entrance W of the side panel 13. This allows the IV bag to be easily removed from the IV support bracket 37 through the entrance W.

[0047] In addition, the wheelchair isolator 2 of this embodiment is provided with handrails 38 for boarding and alighting on the inside of the left and right side panels 13. The handrails 38 are disposed on the frame members 29 extending inside the side panels 13, below the IV support fittings 37. That is, the handrails 38 are disposed near the inclined portion of the front edge forming the entrance W of the side panels 13. The height of the handrails 38 is set to a height that can be grasped by the patient both when he / she sits on the seat 31 of the wheelchair 3 and when he / she stands on the footrest 7. This allows the patient to safely enter and exit the isolated space by grasping the handrails 38, both when he / she enters the isolated space from the entrance W and when he / she exits the isolated space.

[0048] Here, in this embodiment, the battery 9 and the cylinder support portion 10 are installed in the isolation structure 5 of the wheelchair isolator 2, but they may be installed in the wheelchair 3.

[0049] The wheelchair-type isolator 1 configured using the wheelchair isolator 2 of this embodiment is used as follows. First, the door sheet 6 in the closed state of the isolation structure 5 is rolled up from the lower end while releasing the adhesion of the hook-and-loop fasteners 23a, 23b, to open the entrance W. The rolled door sheet 6 is placed on the ceiling panel 15. When the entrance W is opened, the patient enters the isolation space of the wheelchair isolator 2 from the entrance W. Here, when the patient steps on the footrest board 7 to enter the isolation space, the wheelchair isolator 2 and the wheelchair 3 tilt due to the weight of the patient, and the wheels 25 on the bottom surface of the footrest board 7 come into contact with the floor surface. This stabilizes the footrest board 7, so the patient can safely pass over the footrest board 7 and sit on the wheelchair 3. In addition, the patient seated on the wheelchair 3 is transported with his / her feet placed on the footrest board 7, so there is no need to lift the feet off the floor and place them on the foot support as in the conventional isolator. This reduces the effort required of the patient and eliminates the need for assistance to place the patient's feet on the foot supports. Furthermore, handrails 38 are provided on the inside of the side panels 13 near the entrance W and at a height that can be grasped by a patient in a standing position, so that the patient can easily grasp the handrails 38 when entering the isolated space through the entrance W. This allows the patient to maintain a stable posture and safely sit on the seat 31.

[0050] When a patient sits on the wheelchair 3 of this wheelchair-type isolator 1, the side panel 13 of the isolation structure 5 of the wheelchair isolator 2 is disposed at a distance greater than the width of the seating portion 31 of the wheelchair 3, so that the patient does not apply excessive force to the side panel 13. Also, the back panel 14 of the isolation structure 5 is disposed above and behind the backrest portion 32 of the wheelchair 3, so that the patient does not apply excessive force to the back panel 14. Therefore, the wheelchair isolator 2 of this embodiment can effectively prevent the inconvenience of members being damaged when the patient sits down as in the conventional isolator, and can stably perform the isolation function for the patient in the isolated space. Also, the side panel 13 of the isolation structure 5 is connected to the armrest side panel 16b that extends horizontally outside the armrest portion 30 of the wheelchair 3, so that it does not prevent the patient from using the armrest portion 30. Therefore, the isolated space can be configured without impairing the comfort of the patient.

[0051] When the patient sits in the wheelchair 3, an oxygen cylinder for supplying oxygen to the patient is placed on the cylinder support part 10 as necessary. When the patient is to wear an oxygen mask, an oxygen supply tube is connected to the oxygen cylinder. This oxygen supply tube is routed forward from the back of the isolation structure 5 where the cylinder support part 10 is located along the outer surface of the side panel 13, and is led into the isolated space through the entrance W formed at the front edge of the side panel 13, and is connected to the patient's oxygen mask. If an intravenous injection is required during the patient's transportation, an intravenous bag is hung on the intravenous support metal fitting 37. When the patient is thus prepared for transportation, the door sheet 6 in the rolled state is lowered while being stretched from above the ceiling panel 15, and the hook-and-loop fastener 23b of the door sheet 6 is brought into close contact with the hook-and-loop fastener 23a of the frame member of the entrance W, thereby closing the entrance W. If the patient is wearing an oxygen mask, the oxygen supply tube that is led into the isolated space from the outside through the entrance W is clamped and fixed between the hook-and-loop fasteners 23a, 23b. After this, the ventilation unit 8 is started to exhaust the air inside the isolated space to the outside, creating a negative pressure in the isolated space. Once the ventilation unit 8 has created a negative pressure in the isolated space, the operator releases the brakes on the wheelchair 3 and grasps the handle 33 to begin moving the wheelchair-type isolator 1.

[0052] In the wheelchair isolator 2 of this embodiment, the upper part of the front door sheet 6 is inclined toward the patient, so that the volume of the isolated space is relatively small. Therefore, the ventilation load of the ventilation unit 8 can be effectively reduced. When the isolated space is maintained at a negative pressure, outside air mainly flows into the isolated space from between the seating front panel 16c or the foot side panel 19 and the foot sheet 28. That is, air flows into the isolated space from the vicinity of the patient's feet. This air that flows in from the vicinity of the patient's feet rises in the isolated space and is efficiently guided upward by contacting the inclined upper part of the door sheet 6. This allows a stable air flow to be formed in the isolated space from the vicinity of the feet of the patient seated in the wheelchair 3 toward the vicinity of the head. Therefore, the isolated space can be efficiently ventilated.

[0053] When the wheelchair type isolator 1 of this embodiment moves, it travels using the front wheels 34b and rear wheels 34a of the wheelchair 3. Here, a gap is formed between the wheels 25 on the bottom surface of the footrest plate 7 and the horizontal floor surface, so the wheelchair 3 can move smoothly using the front wheels 34b and rear wheels 34a. On the other hand, when there is a step or a protrusion on the floor surface, the wheels 25 on the bottom surface of the footrest plate 7 rotate in contact with the step or protrusion, so the wheelchair type isolator 1 can easily get over the step or protrusion.

[0054] When the movement of the wheelchair type isolator 1 is completed, the operator applies the brakes to the wheelchair 3 to keep it stopped. Then, the door sheet 6 of the wheelchair isolator 2 is rolled up to open the entrance W, and the patient exits the isolated space through the opened entrance W. At this time, the patient can hold the boarding and alighting handrail 38 arranged near the entrance W, so that the patient can maintain a stable posture and safely exit the isolated space. In addition, if the patient is receiving an intravenous injection, the intravenous bag suspended from the intravenous support metal fittings near the entrance W can be easily removed. In addition, when the patient moves in the wheelchair type isolator 1, the patient places the feet on the footrest plate 7, so that when the patient completes the movement and exits through the entrance W, the patient does not need to lower the feet placed on the foot support onto the floor as in the conventional case. Therefore, assistance is not required to lower the feet from the foot support. In addition, when the patient walks on the footrest 7 to exit through the entrance W, the weight of the patient causes the wheels 25 on the bottom of the footrest 7 to come into contact with the floor surface, stabilizing the footrest 7, allowing the patient to safely exit the wheelchair-type isolator 1.

[0055] In addition, in the wheelchair isolator 2 of this embodiment, the isolation structure 5 that forms the isolation space is formed using each panel 13, 14, 15, 16a, 16b, 16c, 17, 18, 19a, 19b formed of a plate-like body and the footrest plate 7, so that the disinfection work after use can be easily performed. In detail, since each panel 13, 14, 15, 16a, 16b, 16c, 17, 18, 19a, 19b and the footrest plate 7 are formed of a plate-like body, when a disinfectant is sprayed and wiped off with a rag, there is no increase in the effort of the wiping work due to deformation unlike the conventional isolation part formed of a soft material. Therefore, the wheelchair isolator 2 of this embodiment can easily be disinfected after use.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the bottom surface of the footrest 7 of the wheelchair isolator 2 is provided with a plurality of wheels 25, but a protrusion may be provided instead of the wheels 25. When a protrusion is provided on the bottom surface of the footrest 7, the vertical dimension of the protrusion is set so that a gap of 5 millimeters to 5 centimeters is formed with respect to a flat floor when the wheelchair isolator 2 is attached to the wheelchair 3. This allows the wheelchair-type isolator 1 to move smoothly by the front wheels 34b and the rear wheels 34a of the wheelchair 3. On the other hand, when a patient enters or exits the isolated space through the entrance W of the wheelchair isolator 2, the protrusion of the footrest 7 comes into contact with the floor surface due to the weight of the patient, and the footrest 7 is stably held, allowing the patient to safely get on and off. Here, the shape of the protrusion can be set to various shapes such as a rod shape, a plate shape, a cone shape, a hemisphere shape, etc. In addition, the material of the protrusion can be metal, resin, etc., but it is preferable to use rubber or elastomer in order to reduce the impact when it collides with a step or a convex part on the floor surface.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the isolated space of the wheelchair type isolator 1 is made negatively pressurized by the ventilation unit 8, but the isolated space may be made positively pressurized. When making the isolated space positively pressurized, the ventilation unit takes in outside air with a fan, purifies it with a HEPA filter, and then supplies this purified air to the isolated space. A wheelchair type isolator that makes the isolated space positively pressurized can be used, for example, to transport patients with weakened immune systems while preventing them from contracting infectious diseases.

[0058] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and many modifications can be made by those having ordinary skill in the art within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1. Wheelchair type isolator 2. Wheelchair isolator 3. Wheelchair 5 Isolation structure 6 Door Sheet 7 Footrest 8. Ventilation Unit 9 Battery 10 Cylinder support 11 Disinfectant support 13 Side Panel 14 Rear Panel 15 Top Panel 16a Seating side panel 16b Armrest side panel 16c Seating front panel 17 Back side panel 18 Horizontal gap panel 19 Foot Side Panel 19a Horizontal panel of side foot panel 19b Vertical panel of side foot panel 21, 26, 29 Frame members 23a, 23b hook and loop fastener 25 wheels 27 Backrest Seat 28 Foot seat 30 Armrest 31 Seating area 32 Backrest 33 Handle 34a Rear wheel 34b Front wheel 35 Front landing gear frame 37 Intravenous drip support bracket 38 Handrails for boarding and alighting 41 HEPA Filter 42 Fans 45 Ventilation vent 46 Enclosure ventilation hole W entrance

Claims

1. A wheelchair isolator that is attached to a wheelchair and is used to isolate and transport a patient seated in the wheelchair, an isolation structure forming an isolation space for isolating a patient; a ventilation unit for ventilating the isolated space, The isolation structure includes: side panels arranged on both the left and right sides of the wheelchair at a distance greater than the width of the seat of the wheelchair; A back panel disposed above and behind the backrest of the wheelchair; a top panel connected to the upper edges of the side panels and the rear panel; a footrest connected to the lower end edge of the side panel and positioned under the feet of a patient seated in the wheelchair; A door body for opening and closing an entrance formed inside the front end edges of the side panel, the top panel, and the footrest plate; a support frame fixed to the wheelchair and supporting the panels and the footrest; A wheelchair isolator comprising:

2. The wheelchair isolator according to claim 1, A wheelchair isolator characterized in that a bottom surface of the footrest of the isolation structure is provided with projections or wheels formed to leave a predetermined gap with respect to a flat floor.

3. The wheelchair isolator according to claim 1, A wheelchair isolator, characterized in that a door body of the isolation structure is formed so that an upper portion thereof is inclined toward the patient side when the entrance is closed.

4. The wheelchair isolator according to claim 1, A wheelchair isolator, wherein the ventilation unit has a fan that creates an air flow between the isolated space and the outside, and a HEPA filter that filters the air flowed by the fan.

5. The wheelchair isolator according to claim 1, A wheelchair isolator, characterized in that at least one of the side panel, rear panel, top panel and door body of the isolation structure is formed from a transparent material.

6. A wheelchair-type isolator formed by attaching the wheelchair isolator according to any one of claims 1 to 5 to a wheelchair.

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