3D Barrier System for Airborne Pathogen Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical and laboratory practices are inadequate in protecting personnel from the transmission of aerosolized pathogens and particulates during procedures, as existing measures fail to effectively contain airborne materials, particularly in environments where novel pathogens like SARS-CoV-19 are present.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional (3D) barrier system is introduced that encloses the patient or laboratory sample, featuring passages for access and systems to control fluid movement, including suction ports, filters, and coatings to mitigate the spread of aerosols and particulates, while allowing personnel protection from pathogens within the enclosed area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sterile drapes and specialized clothing are used to prevent pathogen transmission into the surgical site, then patient protection is improved, but personnel protection from airborne pathogens is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is divided into multiple functional zones including an interior volume enclosing the patient, passages for instrument access, and exterior regions for personnel. This segmentation allows differential protection strategies - maintaining sterility at the surgical site while simultaneously protecting personnel from aerosolized pathogens in the exterior environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier acts as an intermediary structure between the patient and personnel. It includes passages with filters and suction systems that mediate the interaction - allowing necessary instrument passage while controlling and filtering airborne materials to prevent pathogen transmission to personnel.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a 3D barrier structure is introduced to enclose the patient and control airborne materials, then personnel protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier employs flexible drape materials that can be formed into three-dimensional structures with pleats and folds. These flexible films create the enclosed interior volume and passages without requiring rigid complex frameworks, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining effective aerosol containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier transitions from a two-dimensional drape to a three-dimensional enclosed structure by utilizing vertical pleats and folds. This dimensional transformation creates volume for aerosol containment while using the same basic drape material, avoiding the need for complex multi-component rigid structures.
3Ease of operation
If passages are created in the barrier for instrument access, then procedural functionality is maintained, but fluid movement control and pathogen containment become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the barrier have specialized properties - passages are located at specific positions with controlled dimensions and filtering characteristics. Each passage is designed with local quality features such as filter integration and suction port positioning to maintain containment reliability while enabling necessary instrument access.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier incorporates porous filtering materials within the passages. These porous structures allow instrument access while simultaneously filtering airborne pathogens and controlling fluid movement. The pore structure enables selective passage - allowing instruments through while trapping aerosolized particles.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the barrier is designed to mitigate fluid movement from interior to exterior, then pathogen transmission is reduced, but access for performing procedures is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is segmented into multiple passages distributed at different locations and orientations. This segmentation provides multiple access routes for instruments and personnel while maintaining fluid movement control in each passage through integrated filtering and suction systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier includes dynamic elements such as movable flaps and adjustable passages that can open or close based on operational needs. This dynamic design allows restricted access when not in use to maintain containment, while enabling easy access during procedures when instruments need to pass through.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The 3D barrier system effectively reduces the transmission of aerosolized substances and pathogens to the exterior environment, enhancing personnel safety during procedures by containing aerosols and particulates within the enclosed volume, thereby minimizing exposure to infectious agents.
Implementation Method 1
a suction system in fluid communication with the interior volume of the barrier
Implementation Method 2
a filter that allows a visible wavelength of light to pass through
Data Source
AI summary
A system can include a barrier configured to form a three-dimensional (3D) structure to define an interior volume and an exterior space and to mitigate fluid movement from the interior volume and into the exterior space thereby mitigating droplet, articulate, and aerosol movement in the flow path of the fluid from the interior volume and into the exterior space. The system can include a plurality of passages extending through the barrier to provide access from the exterior space and into the interior volume to perform the procedure on the patient or perform the study on the laboratory sample arranged in the interior volume. The barrier can be configured to be formed in the 3D structure to arrange a portion of the patient or the laboratory sample in the interior volume. The barrier can be external to the patient.