Collapsible Air Isolation Apparatus with Negative Pressure Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for isolating airborne pathogens are often bulky, difficult to deploy, lack visibility for healthcare professionals, and fail to effectively contain infectious aerosolized droplets, posing challenges in rapid and effective isolation during viral outbreaks.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible air isolation apparatus with a foldable frame, rigid panel elements, and a motor for creating negative pressure, designed for easy assembly and disassembly, providing a portable and transparent barrier for patient isolation that includes access ports for medical procedures while containing infectious aerosolized droplets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing isolation devices are used to contain airborne pathogens, then pathogen containment is achieved, but the devices are bulky and difficult to deploy
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation device is divided into multiple rigid panel elements that can be folded together like an accordion structure. These segmented panels are connected by hinges, allowing the device to be collapsed into a compact form for easy transport and deployment, while maintaining structural integrity when expanded for pathogen containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation device incorporates movable hinges and foldable panel elements that transition between a collapsed portable state and an expanded containment state. This dynamic structure allows healthcare providers to quickly deploy the device from a compact configuration to a fully functional isolation barrier without requiring complex assembly procedures.
2Reliability
If existing isolation devices are used to contain airborne pathogens, then pathogen containment is achieved, but visibility for healthcare professionals is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid panel elements of the isolation device are made from transparent or translucent materials that allow light to pass through, providing healthcare providers with clear visibility of the patient while maintaining effective pathogen containment. This optical property enables visual monitoring without compromising the isolation barrier.
3Reliability
If existing isolation devices are used to contain airborne pathogens, then some isolation is achieved, but the devices fail to properly contain infectious aerosolized droplets
Solution Approach 1:
A motorized fan or blower is integrated into the isolation device to generate negative pressure within the enclosed space formed by the rigid panel elements. This negative pressure differential ensures that infectious aerosolized droplets are drawn inward and contained within the isolation barrier, preventing their escape into the surrounding environment. The pneumatic system enhances containment effectiveness without requiring complex mechanical structures.
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 apparatus offers a portable, efficient, and safe solution for isolating patients, reducing the risk of airborne pathogen transmission, allowing for immediate care with enhanced visibility and accessibility for healthcare providers, and can be quickly deployed and reused, addressing the limitations of existing devices.
Implementation Method 1
The motor for moving air is configured to create a negative pressure within the volume of space of the collapsible frame
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible air isolation apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may include a collapsible frame including a base and a set of rigid panel or soft elements at least partially enclosing a volume of space, where each of the set of rigid or soft panel elements is foldably hinged to at least one of the base or another of the rigid or soft panel elements, and where at least one panel element of the set of rigid or soft panel elements includes an open space for mounting a motor for moving air. The apparatus may include mounting system attached to the base.