Insulating Transport Chamber With Pressure-Stable Object Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport devices for infectious or immunosuppressed patients fail to provide complete insulation, maintain pressure integrity during interaction, and allow object exchange with the external environment, posing contamination risks and operational hazards.
Innovation Solution
A hermetically sealed chamber with a deformable membrane and hull pocket system allows interaction and object exchange while maintaining pressure stability through a pressurization apparatus and air filtration, ensuring containment and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a hermetically sealed chamber with negative pressure is used to contain infectious patients, then contamination containment is improved, but the device becomes counterproductive for immunosuppressed patients who are very fragile
Solution Approach 1:
The pressurization system is made dynamic by allowing real-time adjustment between positive and negative pressure modes based on patient type. The control system enables switching between containment mode (negative pressure for infectious patients) and protection mode (positive pressure for immunosuppressed patients), making the device adaptable to different medical scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure parameter inside the chamber is changed based on patient requirements. For infectious patients, negative pressure is applied to contain contaminants. For immunosuppressed patients, positive pressure is applied to protect them from external contaminants. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between containment effectiveness and patient safety.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a hermetically sealed pressurized chamber is used to maintain pressure during transport, then pressure stability is improved, but object exchange with the external environment becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is segmented into multiple access points with independent sealing mechanisms. Hull pockets with sealed openings and glove ports with flexible membranes allow object exchange and patient interaction at specific locations without compromising the overall pressure stability of the entire chamber system.
Solution Approach 2:
Glove ports with flexible membranes act as intermediaries between the pressurized chamber interior and the external environment. Objects can be passed through these glove ports while the membrane maintains pressure integrity, enabling interaction without direct breach of the pressure boundary.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the chamber is completely hermetically sealed to prevent contamination, then contamination prevention is improved, but interaction between patient and operator becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
Glove ports with flexible membranes serve as intermediaries that allow operators to reach into the chamber to interact with patients while maintaining hermetic sealing. The flexible membrane transmits forces and allows manipulation of objects without creating openings that would compromise contamination prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible membranes in the glove ports and hull pocket openings allow for patient-operator interaction while maintaining pressure integrity. These thin films deform to accommodate interaction forces but remain sealed, enabling tactile interaction without breaching the hermetic barrier.
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
Enables safe interaction and object exchange during transport without compromising pressure integrity, effectively preventing contamination and maintaining a controlled environment for patients.
Implementation Method 1
the chamber is pressurized so as to work at negative pressure, that is at lower pressure with respect to the external pressure
Implementation Method 2
the air is filtered by ionizing plasma
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
An insulating transport device (1) is provided, comprising a transport chair (2) suitable to allow a patient to sit and including motion means (20) suitable to allow the motion of the chair (2) on the ground to allow the patient transport; a hermetically sealed chamber (3) including one or more walls (30) developing around the chair (2) so as to contain the patient insulated from an external environment, access means (31) arranged at least at a wall (30) and configured to allow the access of the patient to the chamber (3), at least a nozzle (32) arranged on a wall (30) and configured to allow to introduce air into the chamber (3) and/or to expel air from the chamber (3); a pressurization apparatus (4) configured to check the pressure inside the chamber (3); filtering means (5) in fluid passage connection with the nozzle (32) and configured to filter air; wherein at least a wall (30) comprises a hull pocket (33) defining a collection volume (33a) adjacent to the chamber (3) and including a first slot (33b) hermetically releasable and configured to put in communication, when opened, the collection volume (33a) with the external environment, and a second hermetically releasable slot (33c) configured to put in communication, when opened, the collection volume (33a) with the chamber (3).