Disposable Barrier Containment Unit for Hospital Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing environmental containment units for hospitals and healthcare facilities are heavy, expensive, difficult to install, and require extensive de-contamination, limiting their portability and ease of use, especially in applications involving ceiling and wall cavities where pathogens can be aerosolized during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A portable and disposable environmental containment unit featuring a lightweight, fire-retardant, gas-impermeable envelope supported by a collapsible and reusable frame, which simplifies installation and removal with minimal attachment points, eliminating the need for de-contamination and allowing for easy transportation and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thick plastic poly-fabric material supported by a frame is used for containment, then shielding effectiveness is improved, but weight and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by using a lightweight barrier that is intended for single-use only. The barrier is discarded after one use, eliminating the need for heavy-duty reusable materials and extensive de-contamination procedures. This resolves the contradiction by accepting reduced durability in exchange for dramatically reduced weight and simplified handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a thin film barrier material that provides sufficient containment when supported by the frame structure. This thin film approach replaces thick plastic poly-fabric with a lighter alternative that achieves the required shielding effectiveness through the combined system of barrier plus frame support, rather than relying on barrier thickness alone.
2Reliability
If thick plastic poly-fabric material supported by a frame is used for containment, then shielding effectiveness is improved, but installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable nature of the barrier simplifies installation procedures. Since the barrier does not need to be cleaned or prepared for reuse, installation can proceed directly with simple attachment to the frame, and removal involves simply detaching and discarding the barrier. This eliminates time-consuming de-contamination and washing steps between uses.
Solution Approach 2:
The containment system is segmented into a reusable frame structure and a disposable barrier component. This segmentation allows the frame to be retained and reused while only the barrier requires replacement, reducing overall installation time for subsequent uses as the frame is already in place and only needs the lightweight barrier attached.
3Loss of substance
If reusable sheeting material is used for containment, then cost is reduced, but de-contamination complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by inverting the economic logic: while the disposable barrier incurs material replacement costs, it completely eliminates the labor costs, time, and complexity associated with de-contamination and washing procedures. The lightweight, disposable nature means the barrier is discarded after single use, transferring the burden from operational complexity to simple material replacement.
4Stability of the object's composition
If multiple attachment points are used to support the barrier, then structural stability is improved, but portability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable barrier's lightweight construction allows it to be adequately supported with fewer attachment points compared to heavy reusable materials. The simplicity of attaching and detaching the lightweight barrier at minimal points maintains structural adequacy for single-use containment while dramatically improving portability and ease of installation/removal operations.
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 solution provides a cost-effective, easy-to-install, and portable containment unit that effectively isolates work areas from surrounding environments, reducing the risk of contamination and eliminating the need for extensive cleaning, while ensuring a controlled localized environment during maintenance and construction activities.
Implementation Method 1
The envelope acts as a barrier to shield the working environment within the inside surface of the envelope from the external environment
Implementation Method 2
The envelope is made from a lightweight material that is fire-retardant and gas-impermeable
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to environmental containment units, and more particularly to an environmental containment unit with a disposable barrier for use in hospitals, healthcare facilities, clean rooms, and other interiors for creating a controlled localized environment. In one embodiment, an environmental containment unit includes a frame and a disposable barrier supported by the frame. The barrier wraps around a top portion of the frame. The barrier includes a tube and a floor, and the tube may be made of polyethylene film. The barrier is disposable after a single use.