Bedside Air Filtration Unit With Air Curtain Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hospital ventilation systems are inefficient in removing airborne pathogens from close proximity to infected patients, leading to increased risk of infection for medical staff and others, and require high energy consumption and costly maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A filtration and ventilation unit positioned close to the patient's head to capture and direct pathogen-laden air upwards and out of the room through horizontal slots, using HEPA filters and UVGI to purify the air and reduce airborne transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ventilation systems are used to remove airborne pathogens, then air can be circulated throughout the room, but the airflow is not effective for removing contaminated air from close proximity to the patient and high air change rates are required leading to high energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is segmented into a local extraction component (extractor positioned near the patient) and a general ventilation component. The local extractor captures contaminated air at the source before it disperses into the room, while the general ventilation maintains overall air quality. This segmentation allows effective pathogen removal without requiring high air change rates throughout the entire room, thus reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
An air curtain is introduced as an intermediary element between the patient area and the rest of the room. The air curtain creates a protective barrier that prevents contaminated air from mixing with and spreading to the surrounding environment. This intermediary structure enhances the effectiveness of local extraction and reduces the need for high-volume general ventilation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high air change rates are used to reduce pathogen concentration, then airborne transmission risk decreases, but energy consumption and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by capturing and removing contaminated air at the source (near the patient's respiratory zone) before the pathogens can disperse throughout the room. The extractor is positioned to intercept exhaled air immediately, and the air curtain is established in advance to prevent contamination spread. This preliminary removal action reduces the need for high air change rates to achieve safe pathogen concentrations.
3Reliability
If an air curtain is produced to isolate the patient area, then spread of microorganisms is reduced, but air flow complexity and system design difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air curtain is generated using pneumatic principles, where pressurized air is supplied through slots or openings to create a continuous vertical barrier. The system utilizes air pressure differentials and flow dynamics to maintain the curtain structure without mechanical moving parts. This pneumatic approach simplifies the overall system design compared to mechanical barrier systems while maintaining effective isolation.
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
Significantly reduces the spread of airborne pathogens, decreases energy consumption by reducing the need for high air change rates, and lowers maintenance costs by integrating purification components within the ventilation system.
Implementation Method 1
at least one fan for directing air through the cabinet
Implementation Method 2
at least one filter for filtration of air directed through the filtration/ventilation unit
Implementation Method 3
at least one means for killing or inhibiting the growth capability of microorganisms or virus present in air... at least one means capable of emitting electromagnetic waves having a disinfecting effect on microorganisms or viruses
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
Disclosed is an air distribution control unit or a filtration/ventilation unit which is portable and/or can be mounted on or integrated in furniture e.g. as a cabinet of at the head region of a bed. The filtration/ventilation unit cleanses air from a person/patient by aspirating the person's/patient's exhalation air into the filtration/ventilation unit. To construct an at least partly isolated area around the patient, filtered air can be directed e.g. vertically out of the filtration/ventilation unit to perform an air curtain. Use of the filtration/ventilation unit reduces the risk of dissipation of air-borne diseases and health hazardous matter, and reduces the amount of air to ventilate a room with patients.