Isolation Barrier with Negative Pressure Evacuation for Pathogen Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current personal protective equipment (PPE) fails to effectively prevent the spread of airborne pathogens during medical procedures involving the nose and mouth, as existing masks and respirators block access to these areas, and powered air purifying respirators are not a long-term viable solution for continuous use.
Innovation Solution
A system with an isolation barrier that surrounds the nose and mouth, evacuates air at a rate greater than or equal to the subject's respiratory minute volume, and maintains negative pressure to capture and filter exhaled air, allowing procedures to be performed while minimizing exposure to pathogens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If masks and respirators are used to block particles, then protection from airborne pathogens is improved, but access to the nose and mouth for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the protective function into two separate components: a mask worn by the healthcare worker for protection, and a separate evacuation system with a barrier around the patient's airway. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between worker protection and procedural access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary evacuation system that creates a controlled air flow environment between the patient's airway and the surrounding space. This intermediary system captures airborne particles through negative pressure evacuation while leaving the patient's airway accessible for procedures, and separately protects the worker with a mask.
2Reliability
If powered air purifying respirators are used for continuous protection, then pathogen blocking is improved, but long-term viability and sustainability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs passive gravitational evacuation where air and particles naturally flow downward through the barrier openings into collection containers, eliminating the need for powered respiratory equipment. This self-service mechanism allows for sustained, fatigue-free operation over extended periods, resolving the contradiction between effective protection and long-term viability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical powered air purifying respirator system with a passive gravitational evacuation system. Instead of using powered fans or blowers to move air, the system relies on gravity and natural convection currents to direct airborne particles into collection containers, enabling continuous use without power sources or mechanical components that require maintenance.
3Ease of operation
If the subject removes their mask for procedures, then access to the airway is improved, but exposure risk to healthcare workers is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary evacuation barrier that creates a controlled zone around the patient's airway. This intermediary structure captures and redirects airborne particles away from healthcare workers through gravitational evacuation, allowing the patient to be exposed (mask removed) while workers remain protected through the barrier system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the protective function from the patient's mask to a separate evacuation barrier. The patient's mask removal for procedural access no longer compromises worker protection because the evacuation barrier independently manages airborne particle capture and redirection, creating separate protection zones for both patient and worker.
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 system effectively captures and filters airborne pathogens, reducing the risk of exposure for healthcare workers during medical procedures by maintaining a controlled negative pressure environment around the nose and mouth, enabling procedures without the need for continuous mask usage.
Implementation Method 1
evacuates air from the medical procedure field at an air evacuation rate greater than or equal to the subject's respiratory minute volume to create a negative pressure in the medical procedure field
Implementation Method 2
filtering the evacuated air with a filter
Data Source
AI summary
An isolation barrier and method of using it. The isolation barrier includes a mask with a face opening and at least one access opening in front of the subject's nose and/or mouth and an enclosure having a first enclosure opening attached around the access opening, a second enclosure opening, and flexible material extending from the first enclosure opening to the second enclosure opening and defining an enclosure interior, the flexible material comprising at least one area through which the enclosure interior can be viewed, the mask and enclosure interior defining a medical procedure field extending from the subject's nose and mouth to the second enclosure opening when the isolation barrier is in place on the subject's face.