Flexible Enclosure Spool for Infectious Disease Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Patients with infectious diseases require isolation to prevent disease transmission, while also needing medical treatment that protects healthcare workers from exposure, and there is a need for safe transportation and treatment across different environments.

Innovation Solution

A flexible, continuous enclosure system that includes a spool and a bed module, allowing for the creation of a sealed tube for patient isolation and treatment, with features like o-ring sealing, disposable bags for waste management, and integration with medical instruments for safe access and transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid isolation structure is used to isolate patients, then isolation effectiveness is improved, but adaptability to different treatment environments deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveisolation effectivenessVSAvoidadaptability to different environments

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible enclosure made of continuous film material that can be wrapped around various objects including patients, beds, and transport vehicles. This flexible shell provides reliable isolation while adapting to different shapes and environments, resolving the contradiction between isolation effectiveness and environmental adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The isolation system transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible enclosure that can be deployed and configured in different settings. The flexible membrane can be wrapped around patients during treatment and reconfigured for transport in vehicles or aircraft, providing consistent isolation across varying environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a fixed isolation enclosure is used, then patient isolation is improved, but ease of transportation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient isolationVSAvoidease of transportation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible film enclosure can be easily wrapped around patients and beds for isolation, then compactly stored during transport. The same enclosure can be quickly deployed in different locations including ambulances and aircraft, providing both reliable isolation and ease of transportation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The isolation system is designed to be dynamically deployable rather than fixed. The flexible membrane can be rapidly configured around patients during treatment and then compacted for efficient storage during transport between facilities or within vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If continuous isolation enclosure is used, then protection from disease transmission is improved, but flexibility in patient access for treatment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from exposureVSAvoidflexibility in patient access

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible enclosure acts as an intermediary barrier that can be selectively opened or accessed. Healthcare workers can access patients through controlled openings in the membrane while maintaining overall isolation integrity, providing both protection and treatment access flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10154934B2Infectious disease isolation and treatment enclosure system

Publication Date: 2018.12.18 CANTY THOMAS M

AI summary

An isolation and treatment enclosure system for a patient includes a bed module that supports the patient, a spool disposed at a first end of the bed module, and a flexible, continuous enclosure disposed on the spool. The flexible, continuous enclosure can be extended from the spool along a length of the bed module so as to create a tube in which the patient and the bed module are enclosed.